Glee star Lea Michele accused of making trans model Plastic Martyr feel like a ‘circus freak’
‘People were staring at me and talking and pointing,’ model says
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Trans model Plastic Martyr has added to “bullying” allegations made against Lea Michele with claims that the Glee actor made her feel like a “circus freak” while she was transitioning.
The actor and model recalled crossing paths with Michele at the 2010 Emmy Awards, during which the musical theatre performer accused her of using the wrong bathroom.
“I was in the bathroom, I don’t know her at all, I just recognised her, and I’m washing my hands and I went to reach for the soap or the paper towels,” Plastic Martyr told The Sun.
“She was standing there with her friends, talking s***, being a mean girl, making fun of people’s outfits. I was just trying to get out of there.”
She continued: “I said, ‘Excuse me,’ and she’s standing there blocking my reach. She goes, ‘Excuse me?’ and she looks at her friends, looks at me again, and says, ‘Excuse you, you’re in the women’s bathroom.’”
“It was a bathroom packed full of women, so it made everyone else feel uncomfortable. People were staring at me and talking and pointing. I was like, ‘Okay, I’m out of here.’ I went from feeling like I was on cloud nine to feeling like a circus freak.”
Admitting that she was mid-transition and not fully “passable” at the time, Plastic Martyr says that Michele “knew” she was in the process of transitioning and that confronting transgender people can be “very damaging and dangerous”.
The Independent has reached out to Michele’s reps for comment.
Her comments come after Michele’s former Glee co-star Samantha Marie Ware accused the actor of making her life a “living hell” due to “traumatic microaggressions” on the set of the show, with a number of her Michele’s former colleagues supporting these claims.
Michele has since issued a statement apologising for her behaviour and “for any pain” she had caused.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments