Soap opera actor Ingo Rademacher apologized directly to transgender co-star Cassandra James for sharing a transphobic tweet over the weekend.
The 50-year-old German expat, who has starred on General Hospital since 1996, came under fire after he reposted a tweet that misgendered the U.S. assistant secretary for health, Dr. Rachel Levine, referring to her as a ‘dude.’
Cassandra James, who also stars on GH, called out the transphobic message on social media and was supported by several of her castmates who were appalled at Ingo’s ‘disgusting’ and ‘unacceptable’ comment.
Controversy: Soap opera actor Ingo Rademacher apologized directly to transgender co-star Cassandra James for sharing a transphobic tweet over the weekend but doubled down on the sentiment, while being blasted by GH colleagues
In a video response to the controversy, Rademacher denied being transphobic – owing to the fact, he said, that he finds Cassandra ‘beautiful’ and ‘absolutely gorgeous’.
He also admitted that had he authored the initial post, he wouldn’t have used the word ‘dude’ to refer to Rachel Levine.
She is the nations highest ranking openly transgender official and the first transgender four-star officer.
‘I’m gonna address this real quick before it gets completely out of control, of course it already has,’ the actor said in a selfie video. ‘The left always likes to run with, ‘Ingo Rademacher’s transphobic,’ instead of pointing out the fact that it was a comparison.’
‘Cassandra, I apologize to you sincerely. I think you’re an absolute talent and you’re very beautiful as well. I don’t think a transphobic man would say that. I think you’re absolutely gorgeous, I really do.’
The tweet in question, which he re-shared on Instagram, originated from podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey, showed a side by side of Levine with Virginia’s Republican lieutenant governor Winsome Sears – who is a Black conservative.
‘Hello and welcome to ClownTown, where the dude on the left is an empowering woman, and the woman on the right is a white supremacist,’ Stuckey penned over a side-by-side image of the women.
Seemingly in defense of the sentiment of his initial post Ingo said in the video: ‘While it’s not okay to call a Black woman a white supremacist, I don’t think it’s okay either to call a transgender an empowered woman. Because where does that leave women? Women have fought so hard to get on a level playing field with men. They weren’t allowed to anything back in the day. They were nothing. I don’t agree with that.’
Inappropriate: The 50-year-old German expat, who has starred on General Hospital since 1996, came under fire after he reposted a tweet misgendering the U.S. assistant secretary for health, Dr. Rachel Levine, which referred to her as a ‘dude’
Ingo continued: ‘I do apologize for not crossing out dude and putting transgender … me, personally, I wouldn’t have written it that way.’
The actor went on to add the he ‘wouldn’t refer to a transgender person as a dude, if they want to be called a she, that’s totally fine.’
Then, directly to his General Hospital colleague, he said: ‘Cassandra, I apologize to you sincerely. I think you’re an absolute talent and you’re very beautiful as well. I don’t think a transphobic man would say that. I think you’re absolutely gorgeous, I really do.’
Cassandra James, who has starred on General Hospital since 2018 as Dr. Terry Randolph, responded to Ingo’s re-post on Sunday without calling him out directly.
‘I am aware of a transphobic post shared by a fellow General Hospital actor. Shame on you. You have some serious unlearning and education to do. I feel deeply disappointed that such a public display of ignorance could come from our GH family,’ she wrote in a thread on Twitter.
Adding: ‘Misgendering trans folks is violence and if you come for one of us, you come for all of us. The cis world doesn’t get to decide which of us is valuable. I am so proud of the fans for always holding us to a high standard, for calling out transphobia and violence.’
Several of her co-stars reposted Cassandra’s message with messages of their own in support.
Speaking out: Cassandra James, who has starred on General Hospital since 2018 as Dr. Terry Randolph, responded to Ingo’s re-post on Sunday without calling him out directly
Taking a stand: Several of her co-stars reposted Cassandra’s message with messages of their own in support
General Hospital headliner Nancy Lee Grahn shared: ‘The fellow actor, #IngoRademacher, is mercifully no longer a part of the #gh cast. Transphobia & misgendering are disgusting & should be unacceptable in any industry, including soaps/acting. I stand with my costar, @cassandrajames_, & the trans community’
Maura West added: ‘I wholeheartedly support and stand by @cassandrajames_ and the entire LGBTQ community. I did yesterday. I will tomorrow. I will forever. #TransRightsAreHumanRights’
Grahn’s post added fuel to rumors that Ingo walked off the show after more than two decades over his refusal to adhere to vaccine mandates – which he regularly rails against on social media.
The actor said he would address his employment status on General Hospital soon.
Done? Rumors are swirling that Ingo is no longer working on GH after more than two decades over his opposition to vaccine mandates
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk
ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue9OvqqGnp5e2u3vSqJipZZGYwbC%2BjKKloKddp66lscyamqGdomKusbvLqJ6ispWoerW7jK2pmqajnLKvsMSrZJynXajBor6MnJisq5GjsbOtjKOYpp2jYrOwvoyonZ%2Bdnqi2t7GMra6enaRk