Sarah McBride, the transgender congresswoman, publicly addressed an attempt by actor James Woods to troll her on social media. On February 16, Woods posted an image of McBride speaking at a podium, attaching a fabricated quote attributed to her that read,
“The Save Act will harm women voters, like myself.”
He captioned the post with a dismissive “Um…”, igniting a swift response from McBride.
McBride Calls Out Fabricated Quote and Shares Personal Reaction
McBride replied to Woods’s post, expressing the strangeness of being trolled online by someone she had watched in movies while growing up. She pointed out that the quote used by Woods was completely fabricated. Additionally, she referenced Woods’s own acting career by mentioning she had recently rewatched the film Contact, which Woods starred in alongside Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey, saying,
“Actually, just rewatched Contact yesterday. Good movie,”
highlighting the irony of the situation.
Support from Online Community and Lighthearted Comments on Woods’ Roles
Many X platform users quickly came to McBride’s defense following the exchange. Some commenters humorously referenced Woods’s villainous roles, with one asking,
“Isn’t he a villain in that movie?”
Users also recalled scenes from Woods’s performances, like being dragged into Hades in Hercules, while offering encouragement to McBride. One user wrote,
“Seriously though, you’re doing a great job, don’t let these weirdos get you down!”
The Broader Impact of Online Harassment on Politicians Like McBride
This episode underscores the challenges public figures, especially transgender politicians like Sarah McBride, face when confronted with online harassment. Such trolling attempts contribute to an environment of frustration and unease, yet McBride’s composed response and encouragement from supporters highlight ongoing solidarity. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing misinformation and maintaining respect in public discourse.
