Featured Image Credit: NBC
Topics: Celebrity, Jimmy Fallon, LGBTQ, Transgender, Film and TV
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Celebrity, Jimmy Fallon, LGBTQ, Transgender, Film and TV
Talk-show host Jimmy Fallon has found himself in hot water earlier this week following a comment he made towards a transgender guest on his show.
The 49-year-old comedian was catching up with Hollywood rising star Hunter Schafer on Friday 17 November, when he referred to the actor as 'bud'.
Schafer, 24 - who stopped by the show to promote her brand new movie, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - is trans, and identifies as female.
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During her appearance, Fallon congratulated the dystopian star on her latest project, pointing out that it was particularly special for her as she has been a fan of The Hunger Games franchise since childhood.
After the presenter held up a heart-warming snap of dressed in an eccentric sci-fi-inspired outfit, Schafer admitted: "For Halloween, I was obsessed with how the capitol people were in costume and made my own costume."
Fallon then enthusiastically replied: "Oh bud, it’s unbelievable! This is really cool, now you’re in Hunger Games — as a capitol person!"
"It's crazy," Schafer agrees, before Fallon holds the new movie's promotional photograph of her in costume and adds, "Look at you! Congratulations, bud!"
Many viewers of the show have hit out at the presenter for his choice of words, with 'bud' usually being used affectionately address a male friend.
And several disgruntled fans have taken to social media to air their disappointment.
In a now-deleted tweet - captured by BuzzFeed - one viewer shared the controversial video, captioning it: "Jimmy fallon calling hunter schafer ‘bud’ I am going to [redacted]".
And this tweet has since been shared thousands of times over, with other offended viewers quoting it with their own verdicts.
One wrote: "As if i didn’t have reason enough to hate Fallon, he takes this opportunity to show that he doesn’t see Hunter as the beautiful, immaculate queen sitting before him."
They added: "To my cis readers, i hope you don’t see this as an overreaction—bud/buddy is unquestionably male-coded."
Another tweeted: "A slight minority of people might say it in a gender neutral way. but you obviously know it’s used exclusively for men most the time. even if Hunter isn’t bothered, it’s still gross and telling of how Fallon views trans women."
"I literally cant stand it when people call me bud. it’s so degrading and it really shows that they dont see me(or hunter or any trans woman rly) as a woman!! bud isnt something you say to girls im sorry,” a third hit out.
Despite the backlash, other viewers of the video were quick to point out that, actually, Fallon has often called women 'bud' over the years.
In a pre-show TikTok, he is seen knocking on Taylor Swift's dressing room door and exclaiming: "Hey bud! So excited, 10 minutes to show time!"
Similarly, he has referred to the likes of musician Selena Gomez and actor Drew Barrymore as 'bud', and has been known to use other gender neutral terms of endearment on other celebs.
He has previously addressed singer Ariana Grande as 'pal', and original star of The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence as both 'dude' and 'man'.