Last week, Chaz Bono got a lot of attention when he answered a question about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Shiloh. Chaz said: “I would love to talk to them at some point… to at least let them know we have this resource for them if they ever need it. People get too freaked out about kids and what to do with kids. If you just let kids do what they need to do they usually have the right idea.” People kind of overreacted to Chaz’s statement, but in the defense of those people, Chaz shouldn’t have even gone there. Shiloh isn’t even 5 years old yet, and she just has a cute little pageboy haircut and she dresses like a tomboy and she thinks her brothers are the coolest people on earth. This is not about gender identity. This is about a little girl marching to the beat of her own drummer.
Anyway, OK! Magazine has a story based on quotes from an “insider” claiming to know what Angelina said and thought about Chaz’s comments. Yeah… it’s probably a fake story, but it surprises me that Angelina could get through all of those Cannes interviews without anyone asking about it:
Angelina Jolie fumed when she was told that Chaz Bono had spoken about her daughter Shiloh in an interview.
“Angie really feels that her kids are off-limits,” says an insider. “People have been openly discussing Shiloh’s sexuality for a while, simply because she dresses like a tomboy. It’s ridiculous. She’s not even 5 and she’s already labeled as having a gender crisis? It’s upsetting to them – it would be to any parent.”
Angelina resents the attention Shiloh’s tomboy ways have attracted.
“The way she sees it is that it’s perfectly normal for little girls to be tomboys when they’re that age,” says an insider.
Experts say Angie has the right attitude.
“Tomboys generally don’t want to be boys – they just don’t want to be girly,” says Dr. Vicki Panaccione, a child psychologist and the founder of the Better Parenting Institute. “It’s more a desire to engage in activities traditionally considered for boys, and a disinterest in playing out feminine roles. However, this does not mean that they don’t eventually want to be women; they just may not be as feminine or interested in girl things.”
[From OK! Magazine, print edition]
This quote bothered me: “The way she sees it is that it’s perfectly normal for little girls to be tomboys when they’re that age.” It’s perfectly normal for girls to be tomboys when they’re ANY age. Just because teenage or adult women wear pants, have short hair and/or play sports, that doesn’t make them any less than “normal” for the love of God. I also don’t think “Angie really feels that her kids are off-limits.” I think Angelina is aware that people say stupid crap about her kids, and she deals with it by simply defending her kids or ignoring the criticism. Go back to her Vogue interview last year – she didn’t pull the “no one should talk about my children” angle, she just made it sound like Shiloh is just a cool, wonderful little girl with Montenegro Styles, WHICH SHE IS.
Photos courtesy of WENN & Pacific Coast News.
I think it’s a made up story it’s OK magazine for god sakes. As much as I support him, Chaz made a real error in judgement in commenting on Shiloh…I notice that people are so hellbent on labeling normal behavior nowadays let kids be kids.
If Angelina is peeved, she has every right to be. Chaz should have known better than to go there. It’s none of his business.
Bono has no business commenting on anybody else’s sexuality, and certainly not that of somebody else’s small child. It was an appalling attention grab on Bono’s part.
I wore converse sneakers under my wedding dress. I also climb in trees with my son. I’m a 24 year old tomboy. Doesn’t mean I’ve got some repressed transgender issues. It is what it is. A 4 year old little girl looks up to her brothers. Not a big deal.
@ Kaiser – ITA w/ the “girls can be tomboys at ANY age” deal. We can. I was a tomboy for a damn long time. Still am sometimes.
And one more time to the ragmags: LEAVE SHILOH ALONE.
I was a little offended for Shiloh too. My lord, she dresses like her brothers. Cue the pearl clutching! Chaz doesn’t know Shiloh. He’s never had contact with Shiloh. For him to make a statement about Shiloh was as irresponsible as all of those “experts” hired by the tabs to give their dime-store analysis of this child.
Angie’s nice because I would have waged unholy hell on all of those jerks for their comments.
Chaz was WAY out of line. And, actually, Angie didn’t comment on it; a so-called insider did. It’s a non-story.
i don’t think anyone should comment/speculate publicly on the gender identity of children. it’s creepy to be that interested in a child’s future sexuality.
Maybe it will make Angelina Jolie shut her TRAP now, and stop speaking about how Shiloh wants to be a boy. How Shiloh wants to wear boy clothes. How Shiloh wants to be called “John”. How Shiloh wanted her hair cut short. On and on and on…..while of course promoting a movie….
No 3 yr old knows about Montenegro Styles OR any kind of styles… That was her mother selling it to the masses, trying to make herself look like a “hip” Mom….
I had short hair all of elementary school, I wore jeans, I played with my brother and all of our friends.. now I love heels and makeup, but it isn’t a problem for me either way.
I idolized my brother and I related more to my boy friends than I did to my sister or my girl friends until I made it to my tween years. I don’t think I’m the only girl who has gone through this. Some girls stay tomboys forever, some for just a short time.
It is such a nonissue I can’t believe Shilo is a story in the first place.
I think she looks cute. Good luck keeping those pants clean–I remember my despairing over my grass stains.
As someone who taught kindergarten for years and years, I do believe that some, not all, kids are already developing a gendered identity by age five. Out of the 300 kids I taught, there about 4 that I would wager my saving on that they’ll be gay adults. That said, it’s not much different than knowing which will be leaders or which will be bullied in high school.
I know I’m going to be attacked for this comment but as an example, I give you this: There was a very adorable boy in my class who always dressed up in princess clothes, which I always permitted during play time. For show and tell, he brought in a poodle skirt from the 1950s. When I called the children to line I sometimes would call them by group, like all the students wearing pants line up first, all the students wearing dresses line up next,etc.. Once I asked all the girls to line up and he joined the line without hesitation. In his mind, I think he was truly a girl. He was five. While I think, and have witnessed tons of kids outgrow phases I think gender identity, and possibly sexuality is established very early in some people.
That said, I don’t think Chaz has any business talking about anyone’s kids to the media. He might be right but that’s the business of the Jolie-Pitts.
In Chaz’s defense, I don’t think he is as seasoned at giving interviews as Jolie, Pitt, or even his mom. I wouldn’t be surprised if his answer was taken out of context to some extent. And who knows how the question was posed to him. But you guys are right, he should’ve said, “I do not comment on people’s children” and left it at that.
“Chaz” was WAAYYY out of line.
1. she does not know Brad and Angelina’s child.
2. look at her childhood photo’s of her sweet girly-girl image and look at her now.
A psychologist friend once told me, back in the day, that she thought Chastity came out as a lesbian because she could not compete with her mother Cher, who was such a sex symbol at the time. How could she express her own sexuality and not be in the shadows of her mother? So she had to define her sexuality in a completely different way, to find her own thing. This view of sexuality casts it as more nurture than nature, which I don’t necessarily agree with, and it doesn’t account for Chaz’s transgender identity either. But I wonder if this is a common perception, and if someone asked Chaz about Shiloh because she is also the child of a sex symbol mother. In reality, both Shiloh and Chaz are just being themselves, as Chaz and, reputedly, Angie, are saying.
FFS even if this story is true, Angelina has every right to be p1ssed regarding Chaz’s remarks – he doesn’t know Shiloh (which he admitted) so he shouldn’t have responded to the question.
Who cares if Shiloh is a tomboy, who cares if she grows up to be gay, straight, bisexual or transexual etc…she’s 5 years old, everyone should just leave her alone.
Has anyone considered how Shiloh will feel growing up and reading all of the speculation about her, it will be really damaging!
She doesn’t have gender issues, she has uncommon good sense to eschew an aesthetic that costs women ungodly amounts of time, energy and money while making them hungry, hate themselves (or at least etheir very normal hips), and giving them backaches and corns…all in an effort to inspire an erection.
@little teacher I think you are right about sexuality forming at a very young age but I think it’s up to the kid to verbalize and adults not to label. Kids also go through phases and from afar there is no way to know what is going on with Shiloh.
@Yesireeee actually Brad mentioned the John thing and said it was because she likes Peter Pan so much…Angie only ever talked about it AFTER the nasty headlines to say it’s not a big deal but everything is always Angie’s fault right???
I think Chaz was asked about Shiloh by someone who might have watched his documentary ‘Becoming Chaz’. I watched it and he is part of a support group for children who are so addamant that they are the opposite sex, the parents allow them to live as that opposite sex. There are doctors and psychologists involved too and they get involved so early because if the child is truly transgender, the doctors can put them on drugs to stop the kids from going through puberty. Thus preventing a child who thinks of herself as a boy from developing breasts and having to go through the breast removal surgery that Chaz had. It may be odd to some but in the documentary the children said they thought of them selves as a the opposite sex and would cry if addressed otherwise. Chaz is probably just saying he would be open to chatting with Brangelina if it is more than just being a tomboy.
Chaz obviously has some major boundary issues as well. Back to the therapist’s couch to work out your own shit and learn how to butt the fuck out of someone elses.
I hope Angle was pissed & tells him so.
You know, even if I don’t like a celeb, this kind of tabloit bs about their children always disgusts me.
Yessirree,
Montenegro is a playground for rich folks… Angelina was riffing off that in saying Shiloh has playground style. Which she does.
#10 Brad said Shiloh wanted to be called John and Peter in 2008 on Oprah when Shiloh was 2 when promoting CCOBB. Not Angie. Brad/Angie can say whatever they wants about their kids IMO. I would rather hear the truth from them than some lies from tabloids. The tabloids were talking about Shiloh for months before Angie defended Shiloh and her choices.They will talk about this family regardless so the parents should have the right to respond to the misconceptions.ITA Chaz should only talk about kids with permission from thier parents she should no better she has been in the public eye for 40 years. BTW the OK story is made up IMO
@little teacher, you shouldn’t be attacked for that comment – it was sensitive and made a point that is often overlooked. Some kids have a fluid sense of gender and play around with gender roles until finally settling on something they’re comfortable with around puberty, but gender identity (as opposed to specific sexual preferences) is often established at a very young age. Transgender adults often talk about having a strong sense in childhood of what their gender was supposed to be, regardless of their genitals and chromosomes.
That said, I also agree that Chaz had NO business discussing Shiloh’s gender identity. He doesn’t know her; and even if he did, speculating to the media about a child’s gender identity is ALWAYS inappropriate. If Shiloh ends up a hetero tomboy, or as an ultra-feminine young lady who used to be a tomboy, that’s all great. If Shiloh later identifies as transgender, as a lesbian with a masculine fashion sense, or as someone who doesn’t define herself primarily in terms of gender roles, those things are ALSO all great. There’s enough room in the world for happy, healthy people with a wide variety of different experiences of gender.
mln…
Angelina as a mother has a responsibility to keep her children’s lives private.
Brad as a father has a responsibility to keep his children’s lives private.
They didn’t choose to be thrust in the public eye…however their parents keep pushing them in the public eye, constantly by speaking about them.
I thought it was bad enough that they sold their pictures to People magazine for millions of dollars…I think it is more reprehensible then to keep bringing them up in interviews, when they are promoting their movies.
Leaving those kids alone, begins and ENDS with the parents…
Tell me something. Meryl Streep has kids….do you know anything about them at all? Do you even know what their names are or what they look like? No?? Because she doesn’t need to use her kids, as a promotional tool for her movies….
“Chaz” needs to sort out her/his own issues before commenting on the sexual identity of a CHILD who she/he does NOT KNOW.
@Yessiiirrreee
Angelina didn’t mention Shiloh wanting to be called John, that was said by Brad over two years ago.
And the reason Angelina had to address all those questions about Shiloh’s dressing sense and hair was because the media went into a panic after they saw Shiloh’s haircut and when they saw Shiloh wearing pants instead of a dress. The media made it a huge deal without Brad or Angelina saying even one word on the controversy. Angelina only talked about Shiloh because the press kept asking about it while she was doing promotion for her movie. It’s not like she held a press conference to talk about it.
Brad and Angelina didn’t make Shiloh’s haircut or clothes into a controversy for the press. They went about their lives and when they were asked about it, they basically said that it was a non issue in their home.
Chaz ASSUMED because Shiloh dresses more like a boy that she has a gender issue and wants to be a man??!! How sexist & prejudice is that! Some little girls dress more “tomboyish” but that doesnt mean they are gay or have a gender issue.
I think people are misinterpreting what Chaz said – he said People get too freaked out about kids and what to do with kids. If you just let kids do what they need to do they usually have the right idea.
He was just saying let kids be kids. It was the interviewer that brought up Shiloh. There are some children that young that DO ALREADY know their outward appearance does not match who they feel they are inside.
I really don’t think Angelina would have been upset over this comment at any rate. I get the impression A & B beleive in letting people express themselves
Yeah Chaz Bono had no business to talk about transgender issues on a child when he was himself a perfect girly girl at Shiloh’s age, then a perfect girly lesbian as a young adult then a boysihly one later and now a FAUX transgender who still didn’t totally figure out if he want to be a man or a woman since he still struggle with the final issues of sex change which is what trangenders want to reach ultimately in their joyrney to become the other gender.
He is more of an boyish hermaphrodist than a transgender.
He has is own “he versus she” issues to deal withand shouldn’t talk about other people’s children, especially when Shiloh dresses totally differently than he used to at her age. He therefore has nothing substantial as a so called similar experience to talk about since he was like many girly girls and i don’t hear him advising parents that their little girly girls may become trangenders as they grow old..
You can’t judge a kid by what she/he wears and you can’t pass judgement on a child. No one knows kids better than their parents.
And so what if she gushes about her kids? All parents do
Waq:
Easy:
I won’t make statements about my children. PERIOD. I am here discussing the movie, that I am starring in…blah blah blah.
And leave it at that. That is ONE way to shut the media up and have them stop asking those type of questions…
Hopefully Monique’s comment won’t survive the time it takes me to post; however: pronoun consistency, please? A semblance of understanding of the English language? An ounce of decorum? A trifle less bigotry? Thank you.
Chaz was only answeriong the question, he didn’t open the query and maybe he does see something of shiloh in himself as a child, can’t that be a possibility?
Wow, Monique- are you for real? You are hateful and gross.
Yesiree
Actually Meryl Streep’s daughter is famous her name is Mamie.
Where are the attacks on JLo who didn’t give her People cover money to charity and also has a full spread of her twins in Gucci ads, or Jen Garner and the myriad of other celebs that are photographed weekly on Starbucks runs with their kids.
The JP kids look happy and loved and just like any other parent they have the right to raise their children as they see fit. BTW most parents brag about their children, and give TMI my mom still does it and I am 34 years old for chrissakes.
Angelina is right: her children are off limits, whatever you think of her. I’m not her biggest fan (don’t care for her movies) but I believe that she has every right not to want people discussing her child’s gender role at this point in her life or ever.
I applaud Brad and Angelina for letting Shiloh be who she wants to be and not speculating about it or making a big deal about it. Shiloh will be who she will be and it’s really none of anyone’s business.
Shiloh is a badass!
I think Chaz admitted that he doesn’t know Shiloh and his answer was a huge “IF” and “MAYBE”. He also wasn’t the first to talk about her, it was the interviewer who asked. He should have said no comment but in general he didn’t say anything wrong. It’s the media who are obsessed with Shiloh’s sexuality and no one should because she’s ONLY 5. It’s just too early.
I don’t know who reported first that Shiloh likes (liked?) to be called by a boy’s name? Was it Angelina or was it fabricated by the press, anybody remembers? (EDIT: ok, I found it, supposedly it was Brad). I wouldn’t be surprised if it was made up by some tabloids but I think it was the first thing that started this whole discussion. If a girl wants to be called *John*, for example, it is a bit different from being just a tomboy. It doesn’t have to mean anything though, she’s just a little girl and little kids have their phases. But if it really was talked about in an interview, then it was totally unnecessary and I’m not surprised that it caught media’s attention. They should have kept it private because we know how tabloids work. I’s good to hear that Angelina is such a supportive mother, I think that she’ll be ok with whatever choices her children make in the future.
Mamie, CHOOSE to become an actress in her own right, when she was an ADULT and chose that career path.
J-Lo and those actresses that exploit their children by getting huge payouts for their kids pictures are just as much to blame, as Pitt and Jolie.
I agree, they are allowed to raise their kids as they see fit. But they can’t have it both ways….exploit their kids to promote themselves and then complain they want privacy for them at the same time.
IIRC, Cher used to dress Chaz up super-girly the whole time he was growing up. Evidently it didn’t take.
Jeez, people make a fuss out of the silliest things. When I was a little girl I wanted to be Peter Pan, just because Wendy was so damn boring. Peter was the one who had all the fun.
OK, whatever, Chaz the spazz. Isn’t Jolie looking a little Julianne Moore or, God forbid, Janice Dickinson in the first photo? Yikes? Eat something and lay off the “dental surgery” Ange!
In my opinion, Shiloh does not dress like a tomboy. She doesn’t even dress like her brothers. instead she dresses like a middle aged male computer geek. She dresses like the man who programmed our universal remote and set up the surround sound in our house.
She is happy and it’s their own business. I could not care less.
dont bach MONIQUE, englich language police. she is right. IF YOU CAN DISH IT OUT, THEN “MAN UP” and GET WHAT YOU GIVE.
Let the kid be a kid! I’m sure at 5 years old she is not questioning her identity yet.
I can’t blame Angie — Chaz was talking out of his @ss as he doesn’t know Shiloh at all. Angie & Brad don’t seem to be narrow minded people — if Shiloh does believe she is a boy (which I kind of think is unlikely — it is much more likely that she is just a tomboy) then they will help & support her. Chaz should stay the EFF OUT OF IT.
If you watch the documentary Becoming Chaz, towards the end, they show him attending a support group for parents with very young children (almost as young as Shiloh) who insist they are in the wrong body. I was very shocked, it’s something I’ve never heard about or thought about.
I’ll give Chaz the benefit of the doubt and think perhaps he was thinking of them when making those comments, but it would have been a perfect opportunity to call out the media for attacking a little girl for not appearing feminine enough.
Why “anon1000” I would never “bach” Monique, I assure you.
I will take issue with your argument. If indeed, Mr. Bono was to BOTH “Man up” and “get what [he] give” then he would be entitled to an overly personal and uninformed comment on his life choices.
Come to think of it, that’s precisely what Monique supplied.
See…no “bach”-ing or “azz beat”-ing required.
Toodles.
@duh as Brad told Oprah Shiloh liked Peter Pan so much that she wanted to be called John (one of the characters) There have been plenty of photos of her walking around with a sword or in a Nutcracker costume she seems to be a creative kid and Brad and Angie seem to indulge that creativity.
Ok magazine make me laugh with their last quote:
(“Tomboys generally don’t want to be boys – they just don’t want to be girly,” says Dr. Vicki Panaccione, a child psychologist and the founder of the Better Parenting Institute. “It’s more a desire to engage in activities traditionally considered for boys, and a disinterest in playing out feminine roles. However, this does not mean that they don’t eventually want to be women; they just may not be as feminine or interested in girl things.” )
Their ones to talk they have written tones of stuff about Shiloh wanting to be a boy or Angelina turning her in to one and had a so called made up doctor saying what damage she doing to Shiloh.
Yessiiirrreee:@ Meryl Streep’s has three daughters Grace Gummer, Mary Gummer (Mamie) and Louisa
I hate speculating about this little girl, but honestly I think she seems awesome, healthy, happy, full of life. She’s a very YOUNG CHILD though, and its really in poor taste for anyone to talk about her sexuality.
It’s Ok! Magazine so I take this story as a grain of salt as usual.
However, if it’s true, she has every right to be upset — her children’s lives and education are her (and Pitt’s) responsability. Not Chaz Bono’s.
I don’t like commenting on the Jolie-Pitts kids — I don’t feel comfortable about it and I don’t think it’s anybody’s business but theirs (Jolie and Pitt’s). But as far as I can see, there’s nothing wrong with the way they dress and behave. They seem perfectly fine in every way: healthy, beautiful and playful children.
@Embee: “She doesn’t have gender issues, she has uncommon good sense to eschew an aesthetic that costs women ungodly amounts of time, energy and money while making them hungry, hate themselves (or at least etheir very normal hips), and giving them backaches and corns…all in an effort to inspire an erection.”
Ha! Word.
Go back and read what Chaz said. I don’t think he’s out of line. He’s not saying Shiloh has gender identity issues. I think he’s more saying people need not freak out and just talk about these things.
Either way, I doubt Angelina cares what Chaz has to say and no doubt Shiloh is far too young for anyone to be suggesting there are any issues there other than an adorable little tomboy.
Hoganbcmj- its out of line because it gives the impression that Shiloh has gender identity issues. Why else would Chaz need to offer them resources or advice. They are experienced parents. If they need advise they can consult a professional, they can get a referral from their pediatrician. Chaz is working with trans kids not with typical kids so the only advice/resource she could be referring to his advice for parents with trans kids. I believe if Shiloh told her parents she was a boy they would refer to her as a boy and use male pronouns when referring to her and would sought expert advice.Leticia LOL in the most recent pics of Shiloh in NOLA with longer hair she no longer looks a computer geek.
I agree with hoganbcmj. When I first read the headlines I was like “whoa, back off and stop projecting, Chaz!!!” but when I read the whole interview I really don’t think he said anything wrong – he’s just saying people need to relax and there’s probably nothing to it but if they have any questions they can ask him.
@ mln76 – Thanks for the additional info on the Oprah interview. But then you see, some tabloids took it out of context and blew out of proportion. I didn’t even know it was Peter Pan’s thing because I didn’t watch this interview on Oprah. I only remembered reading “Shiloh wants to be called by a boy’s name”. With the Peter Pan commentary it looks more normal like any other kid would do but when you read articles like that:
http://www.parentdish.com/2010/03/03/is-angelina-jolie-turning-shiloh-into-a-boy-parenting-experts-w/
“Is Angelina Jolie Turning Shiloh Into a Boy?”
There is a quote:
“It’s just the latest sign that Shiloh’s more comfortable doing traditionally boyish things. After all, Brad once said that his daughter responded only to boys’ names. “We’ve got to call her John,” he told Oprah Winfrey, noting that when he started to ask, “Shi, do you want…” she would interrupt with “John. I’m John.” Then, Brad continued, “I’ll say, ‘John, would you like some orange juice?’ And she goes, ‘No!'””
This article lacked any explanation that it’s a Peter Pan thing. And it looks more sensational for people who didn’t watch Oprah interview. I bet she already forgot about this whole Peter Pan story and is ok with being called Shiloh again.
The interviewers and “specialists” are concerned about Shiloh and she’s only FIVE! Too young to predict anything.
@ hoganbcmj Here is the problem the press has been really malicious about this child in a way to attack specifically Angie as a mother. The intent of the interviewer wasn’t to get some enlightened view on transgender issues but to create another Tab headline by mentioning Shiloh. Chaz either played along for press or fell into a trap.
EDIT : @duh EXACTLY I think Brad thought of it as a harmless story about how funny she is it was literally 30 seconds of an hour interview but the tabs have never let it go.
Yes! Kaiser, I was thinking the same thing. I don’t get why it would be so offensive to consider that your child is being themselves, we are all individuals after all. Why do people get so huffy about gender/sexuality it’s like ethnicity, can you help who you are? No!. Should it matter if you’re a fabulous transgendered queen or a manly woman? No!. We are all human beings! I do agree, however, that it’s a delicate line between respect for privacy and freedom of speech.
I’m nearly 42 and still a tomboy. I have taught my son and grandsons how to throw a football and shoot hoops. To wear a dress is a rarity for me, never been girly and probably never will. I’m the nutty old broad who enjoys life as it comes.
I’ve found it really disturbing the way the media has focused on a little kid like that, it’s just wrong. I wish when asked about it Angelina had been more forceful to shut down the conversation – not because there’s anything wrong with a kid having fun dressing how they want, but simply because it was wrong for the media/tabloids to even discuss it at all.
I don’t think Chaz intended to be rude or whatever about it, but it’s always a bad idea to bring someone else’s life into the discussion, and it’s never OK to do so regarding someone’s child.
Agree with everyone that Chaz was out of line in commenting on the incredibly typical behavior of a child. What really surprised me is that apparently Chaz doesn’t think Angie and Brad are the cool, laidback parents they seem to be. They’ve always let their kids develop their own personalities and do their own things so why on earth would anyone think The Brange would give a shit that Shiloh is a tomboy?
Whatever. I’m sure Chaz was trying to be helpful and I’m sure he learned a little something about being careful how he responds in interviews.
I saw the doc- Chaz needs attention, otherwise he wouldn’t have specifically name-dropped Brad & Angelina- No matter what she is “asked” (I’m sure ?s are pre-approved). As others said, Chaz was dressed like a Suri Cruise as a kid, so perhaps Chaz needs to talk to Tom & Katie- all the signs are there, right? A better point for Chaz to make is that bc a kid is a tomboy or wears pants, doesn’t make them an outcast- the whole point is acceptance, no?
God, those kids She and Brad created are just Amazingly Beautiful.
I don’t think Chaz was saying that Shiloh has gender identity issues. He was saying that if Brad and Angelina ever NEED the information, he’d be open to talking to them. He was also
making the point that we often work ourselves into a frenzy over normal childhood behavior. Would it have been better for him not to have addressed it? Probably. But he wasn’t declaring that Shiloh has gender identity issues.
yes, chaz needs to talk to all the girls who dress VERY GIRLY like he did- that is the way Chaz dressed, so the GIRLY dressing girls are the ones in “danger” of being like Chaz- you shouldn’t judge a person by their clothes and Chaz deserves all bad karma for pimping her show on a 4 year old- it’s evil & greedy
1. If she’s pissed, I wouldn’t blame her. The kid is a mere child. It’s too early to be projecting about her sexuality, and furthermore, that should be something that only SHE (said child) should ever have the right to talk about so openly. I’d be pissed too.
2. Angie’s top lip looks positively like rubber in that first pic.
3. IF she’s angry that people talk about it, she should probably keep her own trap shut about her kids. Those kids have never been under wraps, so you can’t blame media scrutiny when you’re selling their photographs left and right. IMHO, if you want the media out of your personal life, it’s probably best to maintain a little discretion about it when you’re doing interviews. PLEASE NOTE that I’m sure that they both adore their children and love to brag about them like any parent would. But they’re in a different sitch than the rest of us. Talking about your kid opens a real can of worms when you’re that famous.
@sue – Meryl also has a son – Harry. Mamie and Grace are both actors.
Chaz needs to stay out of other people’s business, particularly since she doesn’t seem to have all her own sh*t in one bag.
Chaz reminds me of a friend of mine who is in a divorce-recovery group, and now sees signs of impending marital disaster in EVERYONE’S relationship. I am tired of her butting in and asking leading questions about whether I (or our other friends) feel “in need of her resources”. Just back off, willya? And I would like to tell Chaz the same thing.
Oh yeah, and:
4. Pitt and Jolie are rumored to keep the press at bay on questions they don’t want the public knowing. In fact, I thought that most high-ranking hollywood folk have that power. The press was probably informed that they weren’t allowed to ask about this issue. It’s a really good thing this time, imo.
@Hellen: Ugh. I hear you. Some people think that because they couldn’t make their own marriages or lives work, you must be incapable of doing so as well. Any bump in the road, and they act like you should just give up. It’s nauseating.
@Hellen: Your friend sounds like one of those “misery loves company” people. Avoid them like the plague.
Talking about a child’s sexuality is sexualizing a child.
Wait until puberty, PLEASE!
And OK Magazine is always a reliable source for a story, right?
And just because Chaz Bono has decided to become a man doesn’t make hemr (yes, I meant to spell it that way) an expert on the topic. Just like Jenny McCarthy isn’t an expert on autism because her son is autistic.
Yeah… this is such a non-existent drama. I think Chaz was just caught off guard and didn’t have enough media-savvy to ignore that dumb-ass question.
One of my childhood girlfriends was a major tomboy. She dressed WAY more boyish than shiloh, and played with boys and did boyish activities. (Although she had the most girlish angelic phase uv ever seen).
Shes now blossomed into a goregeous, lovely young lady who is 100% straight and confident of her femininity. Shes also very deep & thoughtful and has a multitude of interests and hobbies.
Nowadays, she dresses ‘up’ or ‘down’ according to her mood & the occasion. (just like the rest of us do)
Most women who were tomboys as kids, end up growing out of it. I cant believe the amount of press & coverage this poor child is getting over such a non-issue!
American culture is so damn superficial.
@Jay E – I totally agree with you.
The problem lies mainly with the interviewer who asked Chaz something, and the press for focusing on that side of the story. Chaz should’ve known better, of course, but maybe Chaz provided a ton of disclaimers that weren’t printed.
It’s great that Chaz is now happy. Doesn’t give him the right to discuss what’s going on with a child he’s never met. PR nonsense – this article appeared in a magazine, right?
The interviewer should not have brought Shiloh into it at all. Chaz appeared to try to respond tactfully, but I think a “no comment” would have been better all around.
It is heartening to see that out of so many comments, nearly everyone is referring to Chaz properly and respectfully though. Only a few remain insistent with the offensive “she” or “he/she” remarks (which, btw, makes your comments very hard to give any credence to). I think this is actually a good sign that gender/transgender issues are becoming a lot less muddled and mock-worthy in public light & online. Chaz being so open about his transition had a lot to do with that. We all (Chaz included) need to embrace education about the subject while really driving home the point that kids should be off limits until they choose to come forward and self-identify however they damn well please!
nnn
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May 19th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Yeah Chaz Bono had no business to talk about transgender issues on a child when he was himself a perfect girly girl at Shiloh’s age, then a perfect girly lesbian as a young adult then a boysihly one later and now a FAUX transgender who still didn’t totally figure out if he want to be a man or a woman since he still struggle with the final issues of sex change which is what trangenders want to reach ultimately in their joyrney to become the other gender.
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He struggles with the issues of a complete sex-change because – as he’s said – he is not satisfied with the final result of that type of surgery AND he wants to wait until that type of surgery is better in terms of appereance and functioning.
You are pretty judgy IMO and quite harsh, yet you say he shouldn’t judge on a kid (which he didn’t)?
He was asked and he was very sensitive in his reply. Of course it would’ve been better if he’d said “it’s not my business”, but he was respectful and didn’t fuel this ridiculous story about that kid with ridiculous insinuations.
And by the way, if as a kid he was dressed as a girl, you should blame her mother or nanny who probably chose what he should’ve worn.
That being said, 80 comments on a thread about an underrage person just fuels this awful circus, maybe magazines and gossip sites should take a step back and rethink their policy on what argument is off limits and what is not.
Kids should be off limits.
PS: I’m sure AJ gives a ratt’s ass about this story, probably she feels for a person like Chaz, someone who has encountered many struggles in his life just to have the chance to be who he is and live as he wants.
good for angelina. i don’t think chaz was trying to be nasty, but i think celebrity babies should be kept “off-limits”
let them decide for themselves if they wanna pursue public attention, and don’t go labeling them!
It is such a treat to see the Jolie-Pitt kids yet we see them SO RARELY compared to other celebrity kids- very sad. Based on the nastiness in this post alone, it is understandable that Brad and Angie are so protective (not enough for those that say the JPs should never leave the house!). Chaz should be ashamed of such an OBVIOUS PR ploy- I guess that Sonny & Cher’s $$ must be running out.
I think Chaz believes that Shiloh is transgendered otherwise he wouldn’t say he wanted to talk to Brad and Angelina about resources. I think he’s talking sexual identity kids when talking about parents freaking out about kids.
It’s baffling that people really overact when it comes to Brad and Angelina. Claims they exploit their kids: They sold the 1st baby photos and photographed the kids one other time in W Mag. Nobody has a problem with Jennife Lopez, Gwen Stefani, and others selling their kids’ photographs and even using them in ads. They talk too much about their kids: why is it sweet when Johnny Depp, Nicole Kidman, etc talk about their families in all of their interviews but Brad and Angelina are exploitive. They are publicity hounds: This really baffles me. They are barely photographed. They don’t go to pap friendly restaurants, clubs, shops. They rarely go random events unless a friend is being honored. They’re in Cannes yet they haven’t attended any of the dozens of premiers and parties.
I’m not going to weigh in on the stupidity of the whole thing.
All I have to add is that AJ is beautiful and Shiloh’s birthday is on the same day as mine. 🙂
Am I the only one that objects to the phrase “normal” when describing her childs behavior?
I think this invites people to judge the behavior.
From everything I’ve read I think the Jolie Pitts are supportive parents but….
I think it’s important for parents to encourage their children to express themselves comfortably without the pressure to live up to the label “normal”
Brnagelina have never made their kids off limits. They have spoken about Shiloh’s tomboyness and Zahara’s girliness, etc. I wasn’t interested enough to listen to whatever they’ve said about the other 4.
HOWEVER, discussing a 5 year old’s gender identity is a bit over the top. I wouldn’t even discuss a 15 year old’s gender identity publicly unless she spoke about it herself first.
Shiloh probably does know she is a girl or she is a boy. I always knew I was a straight girl, even when I was hitting them out of the park in softball when I was still in the single digits. I loved the game and the players. HOWEVER (again) until Shiloh wants to disclose what she is, whether she does it at 15 or 75 or never – it’s her business. It’s a private issue.
There are lines you don’t cross regardless of who it is.
A little off-topic, but browsing through any toy store in the world anywhere, the kinds of toys for boys and girls should tell you why any kid like Shiloh with big dreams, big imagination and older, bigger brothers would want to wear the clothes they wear and do the things they do. It’s natural and cute!
if bono’s life is effed up, that’s her/his problem. leave shiloh out of it!!!
Just because Chaz is all up in the sex change/coming out stuff doesn’t mean we need his commentary on the rest of the world. What an idiotic thing to do. He should have kept his ignorant comments to himself.
Not really surprising, that kid looks like she should be a boy.
Chaz Bono is ridiculous and jumping the gun.
For goodness sake, when I was 4 and in Tarzan madness, I’d pretend I was Tarzan and no, I don’t have any desire to transfer my gender via surgery and hormones. Honestly, people like Bono need to get a life.
All girls experiment with gender roles as children. Mind you, in our society it is more acceptable for young girls to experiment with their gender in play than it is for boys. Not that this is right, but this is what is.
When we see a girl playing with a GI Joe doll, we don’t think twice. But when some people see boys play with Barbie or even reveal a curiosity about baby dolls, men-usually fathers and other relatives- find that odd.
Is this a valid predicting variable for a gender reassignment? Of course not. Which is why Chaz Bono should shut up.
@Yessiiirrreee
There were paparazzi stalking Brad and Angelina in Namibia days before they gave birth, and long before they ever released official photos. It’s fair to say Shiloh was always going to be a household name whether her parents ever spoke a single word about her or not. The same can’t be said of Meryl Streep… how many paparazzi were waiting outside the hospital when she gave birth, I wonder? How many people, outside her most avid fans, even knew she was pregnant?
Anyway, given the fact that Shiloh was one of the most famous children in the world before she was even born, it’s fair that Brad and Angie are given the chance to correct unfair judgment and criticism circulating when it concerns their children (like the claim by one tabloid that Angie was forcing Shi to be a boy).
By the way, Mamie was in a film with her mother when she was three years old.
Angelina (and Brad) need to be more protective of their children’s private lives, period. Angelina, I remember, said in an interview :”I know it will get people talking but…” and proceeded to tell a story about Shiloh picking up a dead bird or something. So she knows people talk about her kids, why fuel it with more stories about what goes on in their house. It only gives people the feeling they know those kids and somehow have aright to discuss them. These children will grow and read all that. Brangie needs to say:”My children are not public figures, I won’t comment on them” instead of giving the media more ammunition each time.
@Stacy – Their children give them great pleasure. Why *shouldn’t* they talk about the pride and joy of their lives? The fact that the media has no decency speculating about a preteen is not Brad and Angelina’s fault.
Dudette, because, they live in a different world as the rest of us; You can talk about your children with other moms on the playground and it will stay there; Star isn’t going to pick up an anecdote you told your neighbor. With Brangelina, they are celebrities, everything they say is being analyzed, published on every blog and magazine. So yes, they may not be able to brag about their children like the rest of us, if they care to protect their privacy. It’s a small price to pay for the lavish lives of luxuray, mansions, and private jets they lead.
@Stacy as Louise said the standard ONLY applies to Angelina . It comes down to the simple fact that people dislike her. I have never seen an outraged post at any of the other myriad of celebs that are photographed more often with their kids, using them in billboard ads for designer labels or walking them down runways at fashion shows.
With regard to the whole ‘privacy’ thing and celebrities keeping their children out of the public eye . . . good luck! It’s all very well and righteous for one to wax judgmental about not discussing them in the press, but that will NOT stop the media. Michael Jackson snuck his kids the world through tunnels, back doors, by cover of night AND he made them wear masks and it still didn’t do any good. If the media wants to get at them, they will. The tabloid media has grown to a scarily invasive state and I think the celebrities who have to deal with it do it in the best way they can. If they decline to answer questions, the media makes things up. It’s not for us to say they’re being bad parents by talking about their kids in interviews. It’s the most natural thing for parents to do and it seems to me that they try to keep things as normal for the kids as possible under the circumstances. We wouldn’t have the first clue as to how to deal with the level of scrutiny they live under.
Also, it’s not fair to compare the Streep generation to what goes on today. When Meryl’s kids were the JP kids’ ages, they didn’t have to deal with digital cameras hiding in their trash cans, people chasing them in cars just to get a picture, sound wave gadgets trying to pick up conversations from two miles away, internet websites and entertainment shows that “GPS” the stars and their families and a multi-billion dollar industry whose sole meaning of existence is butting into the celebrities’ business, no matter how small the detail. It wouldn’t have occurred to a photographer of that generation to lie in wait at a celebrity’s kid’s school to get pictures or try to talk to the kids as the paparazzi do now. Brad said it himself – that’s why they spend so much time in France. There are laws in place there to protect the children to some extent. ::stepping off the soapbox::
Oh, and Chaz should have declined to engage in the discussion about Shiloh on any level. Very inappropriate and not his business.
Stacy I assume you mean every celeb parent should say “no comment” when asked about their kids and not just AJ.
Kim123, Yes, absolutely
Now their judging kids, what is off limits these days?
“People have been openly discussing Shiloh’s sexuality for a while”?? That alone makes it sound fake. No insider would say that, because only the tabloids have (very ridiculously I might add) discussed the orientation of this Five. Year. Old. Child. …I’ve had several friends who talked about knowing they were at least very “different” by that age, but no one in their right mind who has any exposure to actual LGBT-etc. people and issues would think Shiloh has an orientation.
The other big reason Angi would never have said this crap is that gender identity and sexual orientation are *two different issues*. How you identify in terms of sociological and/or physiological gender has no bearing on the people to whom you are attracted, and vice versa. All the transwomen I know (women who were born physically male) are lesbians, if that helps give you an idea.
I think Chaz did overstep his bounds a bit, but also, he is suddenly the spokesmodel for something people understand very little (not that that’s against his will or anything). He’s gonna have to fine-tune some things on the fly. I’m glad he’s around; in the end it’ll be a positive thing.
No one knows if Shiloh is transgender, and Chaz shouldn’t have said anything because it’s none of his business, but the thing that amazes me is the way everyone gets all bent out of shape about it. It’s NOT an abomination to be transgender. It may be a harder row to sow, but it’s not an insult.
Some kids most definitely know by age 4 or 5, but I have no idea if Shiloh is one of them, but if she is, her quality of life could improved if non-surgical gender reassignment is initiated early. Or she could be a heterosexual tomboy. Don’t know, don’t care.
I suppose Chaz makes this assumption about Shiloh because he felt more like a boy from such a young age. Little if anything has been quoted by Brad or Angelina about Shiloh and the rest has been fabricated by the media. She is a beautiful little child who will have a secure future either way but at this point people really should just leave this issue alone.
ITA with you, Anna. I think that Chaz was just putting it out there that if Angie and Brad ever wanted to talk about anything transgender related, that he was there for them.
In the context of talking about a kid’s sexuality, I think that what Chaz should’ve done was to publicly state that he doesn’t talk about other people’s kids, while privately contacting them to let them know he’s available if they have questions or want to talk. Nothing wrong with that.
The earlier that kids who feel they were born in the wrong bodies become validated, the better. So if Shiloh is emotionally a boy, then it would be good to realize that. I think Chaz’s heart is in the right place. I also think that it’s wonderful that Angie and Brad are letting Shiloh do her own thing, especially if she’s just a tomboy.
I was a tomboy, and had short hair, but I never wanted to be called by a boy’s name. IMO, that’s what puts a different spin on this, and why I’m fine with Chaz saying something, even though it should’ve been said out of the public eye. For all of the other tomboys out there, did y’all want to be called by boys’ names, too? I’d be interested to know. 🙂
Chaz shouldn’t have gone there. It is totally inappropriate for him to speculate on anyone’s sexuality, especially a child’s!! UGH. No wonder Cher won’t talk to him.
The child is beautiful and she is loved. End of story.
Chaz truly was out of line. He is the last person to be talking about genderizing a child. Shiloh is doing just fine the way she is and we should all stop identifying male and female by what a five-year old child wears, right?
If a child that happens to have a penis wears pink and paisley all the time, does that mean the child is gay or will transgender? Of course not. It probably just means the child likes the bright colour and the pattern of the paisley.
I hope Cher took Chaz aside and gave him a scolding and that his therapist is reviewing why he would make such comments in the first place.
Who do you think takes Shiloh to get her hair cut and decides how it will be cut? Who do you think chooses Shiloh’s clothes and buys them for her? This style Shiloh has, has everything to do with her parents and nothing to do with her.
Angelina Jolie has issues with her daughter being beautiful and competing with her for Brad’s attention or any one else’s attention. She is either encouraging her daughter to be tom boyish or just insisting that she dress in that manner. Angelina needs to seek help. No one ever speaks about her pass (kissing her brother, wearing a vial of blood). How do you justify dating a married man and saying “I can’t wait to tell my kids how I met Brad”. Really !! Her daughter is beautiful and she sees her as competition!!
I think Chaz is like a newly converted Christian, in the overzealous stage. I’m sure he meant no harm, only good intentioned.
I just find it difficult to believe that Angelina’s child has such distinct taste in clothing. At 5 and younger??? Most kids that age don’t give a rats a** what they wear.
OK – a member of my family is good friends with AJ’s family. I couldn’t care less, but the woman is a control freak about everything. Her relationship with her kids is for the media. By the way, each kid has his/her own nanny, who goes EVERYWHERE With him/her, but is not allowed to be photographed near the family – or will be fired.
yeah first i don’t think to talk about anyone’s kid is odd.. but also just cause someones a tomboy or a young boy likes to dress up with his older sister, etc doesn’t mean they will grow up to be transgender or anything, so for chaz to comment on that is like jumping to a conclusion, when i see the two things not related at all… it’d be like shauna sands commenting on suri cruise wearing high heels, they don’t relate, ya know
If her boys dressed as girlie as her daughter dresses boyish there would not be the same level of tolerance. I think its ok to let kids be kids but honestly there needs to be some boundaries…boys shouldn’t go out in dresses and girls need to wear a top with a bathing suit…she is not a boy.
Interesting, however, that an overly-sexualized starlet’s daughter is opting for more masculine, boyish clothing. Gotta love the irony!
And while we’re at it, Ms. “Orgiastic for Attention” Jolie makes her children ripe for public criticism because she thrusts them in the limelight, so often. Many celebrities insure their children’s privacy by not having them photographed, daily.
It is irresponsible of the interviewer to ask such a question!!It repulses me to think that Chaz dignified the question with an ANSWER? Plain ignorant!
But Chaz offered ‘help’ to the family… riiiight…publicly labeling that child-is THAT helpful?? If Chaz truly cared-help would’ve been offered privately and in a supportive manner.
If I were Shiloh’s mama??…I might’ve ‘transformed’ into a monster mama bear!!
Unacceptable that, that interview ever made print!!!