A Guide to the Social Media Conversation Around Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner’s long-awaited 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer, in which the Olympian revealed he was transgender, was as much a social media phenomenon as it was a major television event. The two-hour special, which was relentlessly teased with dramatic trailers in the weeks leading up to its broadcast, was the most-watched Friday program, excluding sports, in more than a decade. Its social media impact set a record as the most-tweeted-about Friday broadcast ever, save for sporting events.
While many of the hashtags trending over the weekend celebrated Jenner and aimed to raise transgender awareness, others promoted tired stereotypes with gags about men dressing as women. As Jenner’s announcement continues to dominate social media, here’s a hashtag primer on how people around the world are reacting to one of the most-discussed moments in transgender history.
Paint Your Nails for Bruce
Never has nail polish been such a revolutionary force as when a pair of DJs from Australian radio station KIIS 1065 asked men and women to paint their nails in solidarity with Jenner’s transition. The gesture, which has people around the world documenting their manicures, is a direct reference to Jenner’s statement during the Sawyer interview about looking forward to being “able to have my nail polish on long enough that it actually chips off.” Hosts from the radio show Kyle & Jackie O declared Monday “Paint Your Nails for Bruce” day, and the hashtag of the same name has gone viral on Twitter and Instagram.
Be Transparent
On Friday night, as the Jenner interview aired, the official Twitter account for the Amazon show Transparent responded with a simple but powerful message: “Be Transparent.” The Golden Globe–winning show, about a 70-year-old dad who comes out to his ex-wife and grown children as transgender, has taken on new cultural significance in light of Jenner’s coming out to his family—and the world. The Twitter hashtag #betransparent, which has been used to support Jenner’s coming out, carries a double meaning: It’s about being real and true to oneself, and it’s also about being a transgender parent.
Bruce Almighty
Social media activism once again took a cue from pop culture, this time in reference to the 2003 Jim Carrey comedy Bruce Almighty, in which the title character gets a chance to play God for a week. Jenner supporters used the hashtag #BruceAlmighty to show that it took bravery, strength, and might for Jenner to publicly come out as transgender. A popular meme that accompanied the #brucealmighty hashtag was an iconic photo of Jenner crossing the finish line, his hands raised triumphantly, at the 1986 Olympics. The image suggested Jenner’s triumph as a transgender woman was no less important than his gold-medal win at the Olympics.
TransJenner
The #transjenner hashtag, a not-so-subtle play on the word “transgender,” began circulating on social media long before Jenner came out in his interview Friday night. It has often been associated with flippant jokes and mean-spirited gossip surrounding Jenner’s identity—including paparazzi photos that may have been taken illegally and tabloid images of the reality star photoshopped with lipstick. The #transjenner hashtag seems to judge and exploit Jenner’s experience rather than include it in a meaningful conversation about gender identity.
Bruce Jenner Challenge
First came the “Kylie Jenner Challenge,” which had teens suctioning glasses to their mouths in an attempt to plump their lips to mimic or make fun of the reality star’s appearance. But after Friday night’s interview, some have taken to social media to mock Jenner’s appearance by dressing in drag and dubbing it the “Bruce Jenner Challenge.” Men have used photo-editing apps to apply makeup or wigs to their selfies, using the hashtag #BruceJennerChallenge to make light of Jenner’s transition—which the 65-year-old told Sawyer he’d been struggling with his whole life. “I’m trying to do something about it for the good, OK,” he said during the interview. “And I don’t think anybody could be critical about that. At least I hope not.”
Related stories on TakePart:
• 7 of the Most Meaningful Moments From the Bruce Jenner Interview
• The Case of Bruce Jenner and Our Transphobia
• 5 Things Media Got Wrong in Stories About R. Kelly’s Transgender Son
Original article from TakePart
