Will Ferrell praised for response to friend who came out as transgender

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Will Ferrell has been praised for candidly acknowledging that he had “no knowledge” in regards to the transgender neighborhood, when his finest friend, Harper Steele, came out.

The 56-year-old actor and his finest friend of 30 years opened up about their friendship throughout a current interview with Variety, whereas selling their new documentary, Will & Harper. The documentary, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival on 22 January, is centred on the 2 pals taking a highway journey, after Steele instructed Ferrell that she was coming out as a transgender girl.

Speaking to Variety, Ferrell confessed that, earlier than making the documentary, he had “zero knowledge” in regards to the transgender neighborhood. He additionally specified that he didn’t have an in depth relationship with anybody who was transgender till Steele came out to him.

“I had met trans people, but I didn’t have anyone personally in my life,” he defined. “So this was all new territory for me, which is why I think this film is so exciting for us to kind of put out there in the world.”

The Barbie star went on to categorical why the brand new documentary is so significant to him, noting that it’s given him a possibility to be taught extra in regards to the transgender neighborhood.

“It’s a chance for all of us in the cis community to be able to ask questions and also just to listen and be there as a friend to discuss this journey,” he mentioned.

Steele additionally shared one other essential plot of the documentary, explaining: “It tells the story of a cis friend of a trans person who has to transition himself.”

As the interview has been reshared on X, previously recognized as Twitter, many individuals have praised Ferrell for acknowledging that he didn’t know rather a lot in regards to the transgender neighborhood and being open to educating himself extra in regards to the matter.

“I love this because he’s showing it’s okay to admit ignorance if it comes with being willing to learn,” one wrote. “Did not have Will Farrell unexpected trans advocate on my bingo card but isn’t it nice to be pleasantly surprised for once too?”

“Love this so much. It’s beautiful when we can admit ignorance about something but be open and willing to learn. The cost of kindness is only an effort to educate ourselves and grow,” one other wrote. “The cost of denying others’ authentic selves is willful ignorance, lost relationships, stored hatred.”

“Something I love about what Will Ferrell is doing here is not just being an ally as best he knows how, but admitting that he didn’t have any knowledge and expressing a willingness and desire to learn as a friend,” a 3rd wrote. “It’s nice to see a bit of good news rooted in kindness.”

Other individuals continued to applaud Ferrell for being an ally to the transgender neighborhood, and for supporting his shut friend.

“Did I have Will Ferrell being a babe of a trans ally on my 2024 bingo? No. But it’s great to be pleasantly surprised,” one wrote. “All the love to Harper and Will for using their story as a learning opportunity for likely millions of cis folk.”

“This is how to be an empathetic, normal human… and a good friend,” one other wrote in regards to the interview.

While talking to the Associated Press at Sundance on Monday, Ferrell and Steele additionally opened up about their hopes for the movie and the way their work may form viewers’ views.

“When we finally looked at [the movie], we thought: Could this be a guidebook?” the Elf star mentioned. “Kind of a workbook just to show that two friends can talk about this hot-button issue, and kind of demystify the conversation or whatever.”