Nikki Glaser is facing a different kind of crowd reaction this week after a joke she told during a comedy show in Ridgefield, Washington, made its way back to the person it was about. Briel Adams-Wheatley, a 27-year-old transgender beauty influencer and motivational speaker, learned she’d been mentioned in Glaser’s set when a fan sent her a direct message. She shared it on Instagram Stories on August 24, and the internet did what it does.
The joke targeted Adams-Wheatley’s body and her transition, and her response was blunt: she asked why anyone would be making comments about what is or isn’t in her pants. She also revealed she already had tickets to Glaser’s November show and was reconsidering whether to attend. Adams-Wheatley has built a following of 1.4 million on Instagram and 6 million on TikTok, largely around confidence and self-acceptance.
Glaser didn’t wait for a PR team to draft anything. She sent Adams-Wheatley a private apology, calling the joke dumb and saying she hates anti-trans rhetoric and that it disgusts her to think she may have added to it. She also confirmed she’s dropping the bit from her set. Now the question is whether a private apology lands differently than a public one.
What do you think: does a sincere, private apology count the same as a public statement?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.