'Real Housewives' stars face heat over transphobic comments

RHONY's Sonja Morgan and Dorinda Medley were overheard making the comments during a New York Fashion Week show.

Dorinda Medley and Sonja Morgan

RHONY's Sonja Morgan and Dorinda Medley tweeted the comments during a New York Fashion Week show. Source: Getty Images North America

Two stars of reality TV series The Real Housewives of New York have landed themselves in hot water after making a series of transphobic comments while filming the show at New York Fashion Week. 

The comments were directed at trans model Yasmine Petty during a queer-inclusive runway show for designer and Project Runway star Garo Sparo. Medley and Mogran were filming the runway for their Instagram stories, seemingly unaware that their transphobic comments were being shared with the world.

“Well, with a body like that, it’s a guy," Medley muttered.

"That’s a guy.”

“You’re absolutely right. Oh, lord,” Morgan agreed.

Not only were the comments broadcast on social media, but Petty overheard them for herself as she walked.
“I was really excited to do the fashion show for Garo Sparo for NYFW because he was using models of diversity,” the model .

“And I knew they were filming and I knew they were front row and literally, as I was walking down the runway, I heard them making these statements.”

She added: “It’s pretty disheartening and disappointing, especially this day and age and being in New York City. My philosophy is that people can’t choose their sexual orientation. They can’t choose their gender identity. They can’t choose or not choose to have a disability or a mental illness or even their race, but things people can choose to do is not to be rude and cruel to people over things they have no control over.”

Facing backlash online, Morgan and Medley issued an apology to Page Six.

“We have a history as long-standing supporters of the LGBTQ community in many ways and apologise for our offensive comments at the fashion show,” they said in a joint statement.

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Published 13 September 2019 1:19pm
Updated 13 September 2019 1:31pm
By Samuel Leighton-Dore


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