Twitter’s transgender police were out in force this morning after the BBC’s James Naughtie referred to Bruce Jenner as “he” and “he/she” on the flagship Radio 4 Today programme.
Speaking to a colleague from the ‘BBC Trending’ website, which Naughtie also managed to mock, the host repeatedly referred to Jenner as “he” – prompting criticism from left-wing journalists and political activists who called Naughtie “condescending” and “like visiting your granddad at Christmas”.
About halfway through the interview, Naughtie switched from “he” to “she” before landing on “he/she”. Bruce Jenner is not yet believed to have had ‘the chop’. Expect a “full apology” from the BBC, shortly.
Some of the best ‘outrage’ from Twitter can be found below:
Jim Naughtie sounds very uncomfortable with modernity this morning. #R4Today
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) June 3, 2015
.@BBCr4Today Next time you ask @naughtiej to cover @Caitlyn_Jenner story, ask him to read this, please #r4today http://t.co/1ZCyPgSCnt — Cllr Paul Bull (@Paul4Cowick) June 3, 2015
Reckon Jim on @BBCr4today could do with a little discussion about #transgender issues. “He/she”? Seriously? #r4today
— Peter Hayward (@animaloftheweek) June 3, 2015
Perhaps #r4today should have had a briefing about transgender issues before this, no? — barefootmower (@barefootmower) June 3, 2015
#r4today Jim earning his condescension bonus with ease today #CaitlinJenner
— Anne Bennett (@anniebeanie) June 3, 2015
Jim discussing Kardashians and Twitter on #r4today had that wonderful air of visiting your granddad at Christmas. — tom jamieson (@jamiesont) June 3, 2015
Stop saying ‘he’, Jim. She’s female now. Get over it. #r4today
— Susan Grey (@SJG99) June 3, 2015
Oi! Naughty! You said it yourself: Jenner is now a woman, so have some respect and stop calling her Bruce and He! It’s not hard! #R4Today — Nicolas Chinardet (@zefrog) June 3, 2015
Jim Naughtie badly struggling with transgender pronouns here. #r4today
— Tom Freeman (@SnoozeInBrief) June 3, 2015
She. SHE. #r4today — Air Adam (@airadam13) June 3, 2015
Is Naughtie wrong?
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