MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

Jerry Springer death: Sick trolls and trans activists accuse TV host of 'normalizing anti-gay panic'

'His show and others like it did so much damage to the LGBTQ community in that era,' a user alleged

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: The death of the legendary talk show host Jerry Springer struck great sorrow among his fans, but some members of the transgender community have criticized him as "transphobic" in the wake of his death. Springer, the host of 'The Jerry Springer Show' and a former mayor of Cincinnati, died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer at 79 on Thursday, April 27.

Jene Galvin, family spokesman released a statement, saying, "Jerry's ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word. He's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on." 

READ MORE

Jerry Springer's 'Final Thought' goes viral as Internet hails iconic talk show host amid his death at 79

'I know what I'm going to put on my tombstone': Jerry Springer revealed what he wanted as his epitaph in 2016

'I had "just been educated" on the matter after the furor in the LGBTQ community'

The tabloid talk show ran for 27 years from 1991 to 2018, and aired nearly 5,000 episodes. Some displeased members of the trans community accused Springer of "sensationalizing trans people into a mockery for profit." They also viewed the men who appeared on the show with transgender individuals as victims who were being exploited for entertainment purposes. Out of the thousands of episodes aired, one was titled 'Dude, Try A Transsexual' while another said 'Spoiler Alert: She's a Man!' and a third was called 'Turned up and Transgender'. 

Further, Springer faced a backlash in 2014 over an episode titled 'Tr***ies Twerk It Out,' which many viewed as offensive and derogatory towards the transgender community. In response to the criticism, Springer stated that he had no intention of offending anyone and vowed to refrain from using the term in all future shows. He asserted that he had "just been educated" on the matter after the furor in the LGBTQ community. 

'It did so much damage to the LGBTQ community in that era!'

Sick trolls took pleasure in Springer's death due to the controversial content of his shows. One user wrote, "I don't think anything else kept me in the closet longer than the way Jerry Springer sensationalized trans people into a mockery for profit. This isn't ancient history he continued to do it till this year. I'm not exactly sad to see him pass." Another added, "I remember the parade of "ex-gaýs" like the Paulks on his show in the 90s as well as sensationalizing everything quęer. He normalized anti-gąy and anti-trańs panic on his show. I'm so sorry it had that effect on your life. I think it was *meant* to keep people closeted."

Yet another claimed, "As a 90's kid myself I feel exactly the same. His show and others like it did so much damage to the LGBTQ community in that era." A fourth shared a gif writing, "He did start here. Sadly that changed." One said, "I think Springer went thru phases. Sometimes the segments on trans were sensitive and informative, but then he would have some that were just pathetic circuses." Another wrote, "You also shouldn't fail to point out that the show was completely scripted and people knew each other and planned everything out before going on the show. It was basically the WWE. The "trans" people on the show were probably just guys dressed as girls playing a role."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.