Actress Laverne Cox made the rounds doing red carpet interviews at last Sunday’s Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Naturally, she had to meet TikTok creator Dylan Mulvaney and her date, fellow TikTok creator Chris Olsen. Mulvaney and Cox are both trans women, and Mulvaney rapidly became a viral sensation this year for documenting her transition in her “Days of Girlhood” series on TikTok. Cox had some words of wisdom for Mulvaney about breaking into the entertainment industry as a trans woman. While the interaction was praised by many, others felt that Laverne may have been too harsh on Dylan.
@dylanmulvaney Sharing a magical moment with @lavernecox at the Grammys????
The clip, posted to Dylan’s TikTok account, reached millions. While Cox praised Dylan for being such a great representation for the Trans community, she also advised her that “not everything should be for the public. They love it, but not everything can be for them.” Cox rose to prominence in her role as Sophia Burset in Orange is the New Black. She was the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role. Mulvaney has a background in musical theater, and has expressed an interest in continuing to pursue acting.
Some fans of Mulvaney and Cox were overjoyed that the two finally met.
DYLAN MULVANEY AND LAVERNE COX INTERACTING THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED IN LIFE pic.twitter.com/eP2VxsjGtW
— Jack The Gorilla Gripper (@Chart_Charles) February 7, 2023
Others agreed wholeheartedly with Cox’s advice to Mulvaney about maintaining boundaries between her public and personal life, citing the destructive press cycle that many female celebrities find themselves in.
https://twitter.com/JessCamNJ/status/1622699901900521481?s=20&t=CbAUpdgOEFtfeRX-Ak5UfQ
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Others felt that Cox’s delivery could have been softer, as TikTok has become a hugely successful platform for Mulvaney. Some assumed that Cox did not agree with Mulvaney’s public documentation of her transition process given the dangers that the world presents to trans people, specifically women.
Love that Laverne Cox basically told Dylan Mulvaney to get her ass off tiktok
— i gotta dilly i gotta daddle (@xbvmbi) February 7, 2023
One TikTok user pointed out that BIPOC trans people face additional challenges in their transition, and that Cox’s advice to Mulvaney was likely born out of an abundance of caution.
@serenitysux Black History Month just started, come on now ???? #dylanmulvaney #lavernecox #transrights
Cox was also praised for the way she handled a red carpet interview with Machine Gun Kelly ahead of the Grammys. The rapper turned rocker has spoken regarding his anxiety and mental health, and he appeared anxious ahead of the awards show. A viral clip of Cox easing him through their conversation circulated on TikTok. Many are commenting on her sympathetic and detail oriented approach to hosting.
@spilltheteanottherose Replying to @jtipton001 the cringe #mgk interview with #lavernecox #redcarpet #grammys
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While Mulaveny documenting her transition publicly serves to educate the public on the transition process and the trans community as a whole, it remains a double edged sword. With her following now landing in the multi-millions, Mulvaney is vulnerable to transphobic commentary online. Mulvaney has spoken about her willingness to push through the negativity for the greater good.
@todayshow “I’m a real person.” @Dylan Mulvaney, the Broadway actor, transgender activist and TikTok star, opens up about being emotionally affected by the hate she receives on social media and how she handles online trolls. #TODAYShow #DylanMulvaney
One such incident occurred in late 2022. Mulvaney previously spoke out against fellow trans woman Caitlyn Jenner, after the former Olympian made negative comments about her gender identity during a White House appearance. Jenner went on to misgender Mulvaney in a series of Tweets. The decision to speak out was evidently not an easy one, as Mulvaney frequently speaks to her desire to uplift fellow trans women and other members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Regardless of how fans are decoding the interaction, many were proud of Dylan and Chris for making their way from TikTok to a major awards show.
@varietymagazine Dylan Mulvaney and Chris Olsen reveal what they’d do if they saw Harry Styles at the Grammys.
@zactivist
The pair have both become symbols of LGBTQ+ representation and support on TikTok, and people were happy to see their years of hard work pay off.
