Jonathan Van Ness Reveals Missing Parts of Intense Dax Shepard Discussion
Jonathan Van Ness appreciates Dax Shepard for sharing their intense conversation on trans rights, acknowledging the omitted portions Grateful for Shepard's courage to release it, Van Ness values open dialogue
Jonathan Van Ness and Dax Shepard WireImage; Getty Images
Jonathan Van Ness has provided further insight into the emotional conversation he had with Dax Shepard on a recent episode of the "Armchair Expert" podcast.
During an episode of Keke Palmer's podcast, "Baby, This is Keke Palmer," Van Ness discussed the heated debate. When Palmer mentioned that the conversation with Shepard about transgender issues took a negative turn, Van Ness humorously replied, "No, it actually took a positive turn."
During his appearance on "Armchair Expert" in September, Van Ness became emotional while passionately advocating for the rights of transgender children and discussing broader issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. Shepard and Van Ness had a heated exchange regarding The New York Times' political leanings, specifically debating whether the newspaper can be considered left-leaning despite publishing articles and op-eds that have been perceived as being anti-trans.
"There are individuals who feel very uncomfortable with teenagers going through gender transitions," Shepard expressed. "How can we be certain that they won't change their minds? However, there's another perspective. If they take their own lives, then that's a permanent decision. ... Merely questioning the issue automatically classifies you as an adversary. I don't believe this approach is the path forward."
“I feel like I’m talking to my dad,” Van Ness responded.
Shepard apologized on air after the tense conversation, which Van Ness described as “trigger city.”
Jonathan Van Ness YouTube
During their podcast conversation, Palmer inquired about how allies could combat the notion that the LGBTQ+ community has a hidden "agenda." Van Ness responded by sharing his ongoing emotional response to the discussion he had with Shepard.
Expressing gratitude for Shepard's bravery in releasing the episode, Van Ness acknowledged that it sparked conversations in numerous households that may not have occurred otherwise. As a personality on Queer Eye, Van Ness highlighted these thoughts on Tuesday.
Van Ness alluded to the fact that if you're familiar with podcasts, you understand the concept of editing, which is exactly what happened in this situation.
According to Van Ness, he never received an explanation regarding what would be included in the final version of the recording, even after requesting a transcript. He expressed his concern about the missing parts of the conversation, which were impactful and caused him to become emotional.
When asked what bothered Van Ness the most about the discussion, Palmer found it most disturbing that it wasn't necessarily what Shepard said. The upsetting part was the realization that someone who represents a significant portion of opinions in the United States holds such deeply ingrained opinions. It was a sobering moment, recognizing just how prevalent misinformation and disinformation about queer individuals is.
Shepard has remained silent on the controversy, but Van Ness has hinted that there may be more to share in the future. Via an Instagram Story in September, Van Ness expressed the inability to put into words their thoughts at the moment, but promised to do so at a later time. A promotional image for the "Armchair Expert" episode was included in the post.
Van Ness criticized Megyn Kelly for ridiculing the emotional incident on her SiriusXM show. In an Instagram post, Van Ness commented on how they had encountered Kelly during a press tour for her canceled fourth-hour show on Today. They acknowledged that Kelly had earned substantial amounts of money from the cancellation, praising her for it. However, Van Ness firmly asserted that advocating for trans inclusion in sports and trans rights does not undermine women's rights.
