Washington, D.C., by Vesper Henry – Social media celebrity Dylan Mulvaney has garnered a following of over 8 million people on TikTok since coming out as a trans woman in March. These followers follow her as she chronicles her transition story day by day.
In an episode of Ulta Beauty’s YouTube series “The Beauty Of…” on “Girlhood” on October 13, Mulvaney collaborated with genderqueer hairstylist and host David Lopez. This caused reactionary criticism, which ended in the hashtag #BoycottUlta trending on Twitter.
The purpose of every episode of the series is to highlight individuals who do not conform to culturally accepted notions of beauty (past episodes include “The Beauty Of… Fatness with Virgie Tovar”). During the course of the 50-minute interview, Mulvaney talked about her gender identity and recent experience transitioning.
Trans 👏 Girls 👏 Can 👏 Do 👏It 👏 All! Tune into the latest episode of The Beauty Of… where host @DavidLopezzz sits down with guest Dylan Mulvaney to chat all things girlhood 💝 Watch now: https://t.co/tCRfEryYkZ pic.twitter.com/uaXJqEBQI9
— Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty) October 13, 2022
Right-wing commentators and transphobic Twitter users, like Blaze Media podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey, expressed outrage over Mulvaney’s remarks regarding her ability to one day become a mother and the Ulta Twitter account’s description, “Trans females can do it all.”
“I want to be a mother one day, and I absolutely can.” No, you cannot. You can buy all the eggs, rent all the wombs, and wear all the makeup you want, but you cannot be a mother. And that’s ok. Accept who you are and don’t try to be something you can’t. https://t.co/TPnSPeC6A8
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) October 15, 2022
Even Stuckey produced a whole podcast episode about it later.
Additionally, Turning Point USA contributor Lauren Chen said it is “weird” for a trans woman to be content with herself.
The fact that an adult male is obsessed with girlhood (not even womanhood, but GIRLHOOD) is just straight up creepy.
Whatever happened to shutting up and selling makeup @ultabeauty? https://t.co/cmjt7xfLK7
— Lauren Chen (@TheLaurenChen) October 16, 2022
In response to online hostility, Ulta concealed and disabled comments on the episode; however, on October 16, the business followed up with a two-part Twitter post defending both the episode and the premise of the series.
The premise of ‘The Beauty Of…’ is to feature conversations that widen the lens surrounding traditional beauty standards. We believe beauty is for everyone. And while we recognize some conversations we host will challenge perspectives and opinions, we believe constructive (1/2)
— Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty) October 16, 2022
The premise of ‘The Beauty Of…’ is to feature conversations that widen the lens surrounding traditional beauty standards. We believe beauty is for everyone. And while we recognize some conversations we host will challenge perspectives and opinions, we believe constructive (1/2)
— Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty) October 16, 2022
Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire, who has recently come under fire for remarks supporting underage marriage and pregnancy, criticised the firm for its response.
No they do not https://t.co/1iRxX4Vsfl
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 17, 2022
Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire, who has recently come under fire for remarks supporting underage marriage and pregnancy, criticised the firm for its response.
