Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney hits back after being subjected to transphobia in restaurant
The 18-year-old actress says she was left "in shock" after the incident.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Jordan Rossi and Twitter/@yazdemand
Heartstopper‘s Yasmin Finney has said she was left “in shock” after a woman yelled at her a question about her gender identity.
The 18 year-old actress, who plays Elle Argent in the hit Netflix show based on Alice Oseman’s popular web comic/graphic novel, posted on Twitter on Saturday (7 May) after the incident.
“‘Are you a boy or a girl’ Today some women [sic] shouted this in front of all of her peers while I was about to leave a restaurant,” Yasmin wrote.
“I’ve given up hope”
Posting an image of herself (looking stunning), she added: “Erm Idk [I don’t know] what do I look like to you?”
In a follow-up tweet, Yasmin said: “I was clearly in shock when she said this and she then said ‘I’m not transphobic I have trans friends’. At this point I’ve given up hope lol”
I was clearly in shock when she said this and she then said
“I’m not transphobic I have trans friends”At this point I’ve given up hope lol
— Yaz (@Yazdemand) May 7, 2022
Yasmin was met with an outpouring of support on social media.
As she graced the cover of the Attitude May/June issue – out now – along with her Heartstopper co-stars, Yasmin reflected on the significance of the representation she was providing in the show.
“I am on the screen. That in itself is powerful enough. That in itself is inspiring to people. And I have to realise that and get out of my head and be like, ‘Listen, girl, you smashed it, you’re on the show, you’ve got an amazing support system around you, like, you’re doing really well’.”
She also said that Heartstopper has given her a platform, helped open doors for other queer people and would show other LGBTQ people they could be seen, hears, and represented
“I just love showing people that you can do it. Even though I was bullied, and even though I have been through a lot, you can always come out the other end. That’s the most empowering thing for me. And especially Elle, she’s just such a queen,” she said.
Watch more from the Attitude cover shoot below:
The Attitude May/June issue is out now.
