Hailey Bieber has been praised online for shutting down transphobic trolls with an unapologetically affirming message — making it clear that being compared to a trans person is not an insult.
During a lighthearted moment on the In Your Dreams podcast with actor Owen Thiele, the 28-year-old model and entrepreneur joked about a pillow making her jeans look like she had a penis. Thiele quipped that she was “hard”, and Bieber leaned into the joke: “The rumours are true.”
This moment quickly turned into a candid reflection about the online trolling she often faces.
“People are trying to be mean,” Bieber explained. “They’re like, ‘She looks trans.’ And I’m like, why do you think that’s a diss?”
She added:
“Some of the most beautiful women and men in the world are trans. So I just don’t take that offensively at all.”
An Iconic Clapback
Hailey’s response has struck a chord with fans and the LGBTQ+ community, many calling it “iconic” and a much-needed rebuttal to harmful transphobia that persists in online spaces.
One fan posted:
“Wait, that has to be the best answer any celeb has ever given.”
Another wrote:
“The energy we NEED. Protect the dolls for real.”
Following in Gaga’s Footsteps?
Bieber’s confident response echoes the energy of Lady Gaga, who famously addressed similar rumours in the late 2000s. When asked by Anderson Cooper if she had a penis, Gaga shrugged it off with poise:
“Maybe I do. Would it be so terrible? Why would I waste my time issuing a press release?”
“No Notes. 10/10.”
As trans visibility continues to grow, so too does backlash — often fueled by ignorance or bigotry. But Hailey Bieber’s comments highlight a crucial truth: being trans is not a slur.
By rejecting the comments and praising the beauty of trans people, Bieber has once again shown why she’s not just a model — but a role model.
