Will Ferrell has opened up about his reflections on the transgender community and the issue of transphobia while promoting his new documentary, Will & Harper. The film, which premiered on Netflix on September 27, follows his journey of accepting his longtime friend Harper Steele, who recently transitioned to womanhood.
In an interview with The Independent, Ferrell discussed the roots of transphobia, attributing much of it to a fear of the unknown. He questioned why cisgender heterosexual individuals perceive trans people as a threat, stating, “It’s very unsafe for trans people in certain situations. But I don’t know why trans people are meant to be threatening to me as a cis male. I don’t know why Harper is threatening to me.”
Ferrell expressed a desire to understand the aversion to individuals living authentically, reflecting on his own initial confusion about why Harper’s transition felt threatening to him as her best friend. He noted, “If the trans community is a threat to you, I think it stems from not being confident or safe with yourself.”
The documentary aims to foster friendship, acceptance, and understanding within the context of the trans experience. It chronicles Ferrell’s and Harper’s 30-year friendship, which began when they worked together on Saturday Night Live in the 1990s. Ferrell admitted he had little knowledge of the trans community prior to Harper’s coming out, and her transition prompted him to engage in significant self-education.
Will & Harper also features a road trip across America, showcasing the evolution of their friendship in light of Harper’s transition. Ferrell highlighted the importance of listening and asking questions as a way for the cisgender community to support their trans friends. He encouraged others to view the happiness of trans individuals not as a threat, but as an opportunity for acceptance and understanding, emphasizing that transphobia often stems from an inability to accept oneself.