Two transgender celebrities have sparked backlash after stating that trans teenagers should be allowed to shoplift.
YouTuber Gigi Gorgeous, 33, and RuPaul‘s Drag Race star TS Madison, 47, made the outrageous statement on Madison’s Outlaws podcast this week.
‘If I ran the world I’d be banning penalties against shoplifting for trans teens,’ Gigi said.
‘I think that shoplifting should be legal – for some. As a young child, I needed makeup, and I had no other way to pay for it other than to five finger discount,’ she continued.
‘I think everybody should overlook those that are young, obviously trans, and need a little makeup.’
She added, ‘Let them go. Don’t chase them out. Don’t call the cops. Let them live!’
Gigi also said that it was ‘really important’ for trans teens to have access to beauty products so that they ‘feel safe’ and ‘loved.’
Madison agreed before admitting that she herself had been caught shoplifting when she was 17.
Transgender YouTube star Gigi Gorgeous said that trans teens should be allowed to shoplift during an interview on TS Madison’s Outlaws podcast
Madison agreed with Gigi before the pair both admitted to shoplifting as teens themselves
‘I was caught three times, probably around that age,’ Gigi agreed.
Madison said that she would take her newborn baby brother to Burdines and then stuff designer items into his stroller before leaving the store.
While the segment was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it still drew a strong reaction online, with many surprisingly agreeing with Gigi and Madison.
‘It’s how I got a lot of things in my youth to survive,’ commented one, while another wrote, ‘Ban penalties against shoplifting for all teens. Period.’
A third wrote, ‘No penalties for anyone shoplifting until billionaires cease to exist.’
Another explained that it’s important for trans teens to shoplift because they may need to hide their gender identity.
‘It’s specifically for trans teens because they cannot be seen buying the things they’re buying,’ they explained.
‘I.e. a boy will be noticed buying a skirt, even if it’s from the thrift. It’s not a big deal sure, but for some it can mean serious and deadly issues at home. So let ’em steal, it’s the only completely invisible form of purchasing gender affirming clothing and items.’
Gigi got her start on YouTube before crossing over into the mainstream with appearances on MTV, E!, and VH1
A fifth commented, ‘Any working class citizen should be allowed to shoplift from big companies but not from small business.’
However, many others were outraged at the notion of normalizing shoplifting in any form.
‘Let’s not normalize theft,’ commented one, while another wrote, ‘The comments in here are ghetto. Where are your parents?’
A third wrote, ‘None of you are special, none of you are above the law.’
Gigi got her start on YouTube before crossing over into the mainstream with appearances on MTV, E!, and VH1.
TS Madison was also a viral internet personality before landing her own reality show on WeTV.
Since then, Madison has gone on to star in multiple films and television shows and has become a permanent judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
