Real Housewives of New York stars make fun of trans model at fashion show
Real Housewives of New York stars Sonja Morgan and Dorinda Medley have apologised after making offensive comments about a transgender model at New York Fashion Week.
Morgan and Medley attended the Garo Sparo show on Tuesday, September 10, in support of their cast mate Tinsley Mortimer.
Sparo, a Project Runway finalist, cast a diverse line-up for the show including RuPaul’s Drag Race queen Miz Cracker, iconic Club Kid Amanda Lepore and trans model Yasmine Petty.
According to Page Six, Morgan shared an Instagram story in which she was heard asking “Who is that? That’s a guy right?” as Miz Cracker took to the catwalk.
In a now-deleted video, Medley made a similar remark when Petty appeared.
“Well, with a body like that, it’s a guy,” Medley said.
“Yeah, with a body like that it’s a guy, you’re absolutely right,” Morgan replied.
Yasmine Petty heard Real Housewives of New York stars’ remarks from the runway.
Petty told Page Six that she heard the women’s comments from the runway.
“I was really excited to do the fashion show for Garo Sparo for New York Fashion Week because he was using models of diversity,” she said.
“And I knew they were filming the Real Housewives of New York and I knew they were front row and literally, as I was walking down the runway, I heard them making these statements.”
Petty called the incident “pretty disheartening and disappointing, especially this day and age and being in New York City”.
“My philosophy is that people can’t choose their sexual orientation, they can’t choose their gender identity.” she continued.
“They can’t choose or not choose to have a disability or a mental illness or even their race, but things people can choose to do is not to be rude and cruel to people over things they have no control over.”
Morgan and Medley issued an apology, telling Page Six: “We have a history as long-standing supporters of the LGBTQ community in many ways and apologise for our offensive comments at the fashion show.”