USA Olympian Gus Kenworthy has hit back at homophobes who have targetted his YouTube account proving that homophobia is still very prevalent in 2018.
The comments which he shared in a tweet yesterday, call him “faggot” and “pedo-fag,” and wish him death from AIDS, a car accident, or being pushed off a building.
Them: It's 2018 nobody cares that you're gay. Homophobia doesn't exist anymore. Get over yourself.
My YouTube notifications: pic.twitter.com/moASu15TR4
— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) February 27, 2018
He slew the commenters and hammered home the fact that homophobia is still alive and well in 2018. He said:
“Them: It’s 2018 nobody cares that you’re gay. Homophobia doesn’t exist anymore. Get over yourself.”
“My YouTube notifications:(referring to the screenshots)”
The tweet quickly gained responses, the majority of which have been sympathetic. Many well-known faces took to Twitter and expressed their support.
Bill and Hilary Clinton’s daughter Chelsea Clinton sympathised with Gus saying: “I am so sorry Gus you are dealing with this. All those vile comments reflect on the people making them, not you. Thank you for always representing #TeamUSA so well, on and off skis.”
I am so sorry Gus you are dealing with this. All those vile comments reflect on the people making them, not you. Thank you for always representing #TeamUSA so well, on and off skis.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 28, 2018
Fellow Olympian and the first openly gay gold medal winner at the Winter Olympics, Eric Radford replied simply with “Ugh…”
Ugh…?
— Eric Radford (@Rad85E) February 27, 2018
FOX5 New Anchor Kathleen Bade said: “Classless will never eclipse class. Stay you, be you and know your country is proud of you.”
Classless will never eclipse class. Stay you, be you and know your country is proud of you.
— Kathleen Bade (@KathleenFOX5) February 27, 2018
Miss Saigon star Lea Salonga talked about the cowardliness of the commenters saying: “There are more good people in this world. Those cowards don’t deserve anyone’s attention.”
There are more good people in this world. Those cowards don’t deserve anyone’s attention.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) February 27, 2018
Since the tweet, YouTube has replied to the tweet and apologised that these comments slipped through their system saying that they are working on a system to mute derogatory comments:
This is unacceptable, we’re so sorry these comments and notifications came through to you. We’re actively working to fix this so you won’t see or be notified of abusive comments and exploring more ways to protect people from abusive comments overall.
This is unacceptable, we’re so sorry these comments and notifications came through to you. We’re actively working to fix this so you won't see or be notified of abusive comments and exploring more ways to protect people from abusive comments overall.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 28, 2018
© 2018 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
comments. Please sign in to comment.