Bruce Jenner was a very unpopular man during the live telecast of ABC’s ESPY Awards on Wednesday night. Outraged Twitter users slammed the 65-year-old former Olympian for accepting the Arthur Ashe courage award for being a cross-dresser.
Many Twitter users believed the award should have gone to 5-year-old cancer patient Leah Still, the daughter of NFL player Devon Still.
The ESPYs presented a 3-minute moving tribute to Leah that brought tears to many viewers eyes. But Jenner, a cross-dresser who played dress up in his mother’s clothes as a boy, was given a 15-minute tribute that only served to highlight his narcissism.
When Jenner finally accepted his award as his alter ego “Caitlyn”, wearing a white floor length Atelier Versace frock, he gave a lengthy speech that nearly put the audience to sleep.
Jenner managed to heap praise on himself while trying to convince the national TV audience that a man deserves honors and tributes for wearing a dress, makeup and a purse.
To his credit, Jenner did call attention to the relentless bullying and senseless murders of transgender youth. But he failed to make the connection to the larger issue of mental illness that puts transgender youth at higher risk for suicide, unemployment, prostitution and homelessness.
But Twitter users weren’t moved by Jenner’s prepared speech.
“Can’t believe HE wasn’t booed off the stage,” tweeted @wblake1794.
“Remember when he/she/it killed someone in a car accident? Of course not. Thanks to social justice, this is now courageous,” tweeted @nh1ogan.
“Bruce Jenner is neither courageous nor stunning. Opportunist? Yes,” tweeted Crystal Wright whose Twitter handle is @GOPBlackChick.
See what other users had to say about Jenner below.
RT @CureHipHop: I'm cryingggg RT @JazOuttaControl: Dawg RT @AirGordon_: Bruce Jenner voice switch up like pic.twitter.com/NypDUQTcKX
— Brown skin lover (@Hos_dont_loveme) July 16, 2015
