OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A segment on Fox News’ popular “The Five” program on Thursday got testy again when liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov made some assertions regarding the use of proper pronouns.
At one point, the panel focused on Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, and Riley Gaines, her previous competitor, who has been in the spotlight for voicing her opposition to the inclusion of biological male athletes in women’s sports.
Tarlov went on to claim that there is a “tremendous spike in attacks and violent crime targeted at transgender people because that’s something that’s going on all across the country.”
“It is important to treat people with dignity and respect when you are using or when you are talking about these issues. And part of that is using the correct pronouns,” Tarlov said.
“No,” co-host Katie Pavlich responded, which was echoed by another panelist, Joey Jones.
“Yes, it is. It doesn’t hurt you at all to call Lia Thomas–” the liberal co-host began to say before she was cut off by co-host Greg Gutfeld, who said Tarlov does not have the right to tell them how to address others.
“Don’t compel my language. Do not–you have no right to compel me to say anything. That’s the beauty of this world,” Gutfeld added.
“It makes me a liar,” Jones insisted.
The discussion continued, with the other panelists supporting Tarlov’s right to speak her mind and have her own opinion while adding that doesn’t mean others should be forced to agree.
“On the feminism issue though, women in general and feminists… are all supportive of trans people and trans rights. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we are immune to understanding the competitive aspect of what this is on the college level, the high school level, and beyond…” Tarlov claimed.
Jones attempted to go to a commercial break, but Gutfeld broke in again.
“There’s a trend in Jessica’s defense when she talked about the homeless and trans, that when you make a criticism, you then connect it to attacks against these groups. We should be able to criticize anything and not be blamed for a rise and attacks against trans. Trans are maybe a tenth of a percent of the population. You have to work really hard to go seek one out,” he said.
Pushing back, Tarlov said, “To that point then, whenever we talk about gun violence and people point out that more white people are killed by cops than Black people are. That’s an important part of the conversation that you would bring up.”
WATCH:
'The Five' lose their shit when liberal host Jessica Tarlov says it doesn't hurt them to refer to Lia Thomas as she/her.
"No!"
"It makes me a liar!"
"You have NO RIGHT to compel me to say ANYTHING!" pic.twitter.com/PkG83K3o8k
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) April 27, 2023
Earlier in the week, the network shocked its fans by removing top-rated host Tucker Carlson from the lineup, and for his part, Gutfeld appeared to defend his former colleague from another Fox liberal.
Gutfeld took to Twitter to defend Carlson and hit back at his colleague Geraldo Rivera, who had issued some seething comments about Carlson after his departure.
Rivera tweeted: “I don’t wish ill on anybody, but there is no doubt – as I said at the time-Tucker Carlson’s perverse January 6 conspiracy theory was ‘bullsh*t.’ Having lost the election President Trump incited an insurrection that sought to undermine our Constitutional process.”
“You’re a class act Geraldo. A real man of the people,” Gutfeld quote-tweeted in response.
You’re a class act Geraldo. A real man of the people. https://t.co/20LOwVzXwS
— GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) April 26, 2023
Earlier in the week week, Gutfeld made headlines when he mentioned Carlson on-air after the news broke that Fox News had “parted ways” with the top-rated host.
During a segment on “The Five,” Gutfeld joked that Carlson will now run for president — and several of the hosts did not say a word.
The conversation at the table began when they discussed President Joe Biden’s re-election prospects. Chaffetz predicted that even though Biden will likely announce re-election, he will ultimately not run. Biden did announce early on Tuesday morning that he is running for a second term, a day after his domestic policy adviser and former Obama-era national security adviser Susan Rice announced her departure.
“I think she actually might be a candidate,” Chaffetz said. “I don’t think Joe Biden – even though he may announce tomorrow – I don’t think by the time he gets to the end of the year he’s actually going to run.”
As the end of the segment neared, Gutfeld joked about Carlson by saying: “And then so in 2024, it’ll be Susan Rice versus Tucker Carlson.”
