Jeff Goldblum is BLASTED by RuPaul’s Drag Race viewers for being ‘anti-Muslim’ after asking queen Jackie Cox about her hijab runway look
Jeff Goldblum has been hit by criticism from fans for being ‘anti-Muslim’ after his appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The actor, 67, was a guest judge on Friday’s edition of the show, and had asked drag queen Jackie Cox about her Stars And Stripes runway look which saw her wear a star-spangled hijab in reference to her Muslim background.
First asking if Jackie was ‘religious’, Jeff went on to comment on Islam and how the religion treats LGBTQ+ people like the Iranian-Canadian star, 34.
Criticism: Jeff Goldblum was BLASTED by RuPaul’s Drag Race viewers for being ‘anti-Muslim’ after asking queen Jackie Cox about her hijab runway look, after appearing on Friday’s show
Of her ensemble, Jackie said: ‘This outfit really represents the importance that visibility for people of religious minorities need to have in this country.’
Jeff then asked: ‘Is there something in this religion that is anti-homosexuality and anti-woman? Does that complicate the issue? I’m just raising it and thinking out loud and maybe being stupid.’
While RuPaul commented that ‘drag has always shaken the tree’, Jackie became teary-eyed as she said it was ‘a complex issue’ and had her ‘own misgivings about the way LGBT people are treated in the Middle East.
Inspiration: The actor, 67, had asked drag queen Jackie Cox about her Stars And Stripes runway look which saw her wear a star-spangled hijab in reference to her Muslim background
Inquisitive: Jeff asked Jackie: ‘Is there something in this religion that is anti-homosexuality and anti-woman? Does that complicate the issue? I’m just raising it and thinking out loud’
‘What is so important to me is that if you just happen to be different, then live that truth,’ Jackie explained.
Going on to talk about the U.S. travel ban that prohibited the entry of people from Muslim-majority countries, Jackie continued: ‘When the Muslim ban happened, it really destroyed a lot of my faith in this country. And really hurt my family. And that’s so wrong to me.
‘I had to show America that you can be LGBT and from the Middle East and there’s going to be complicated shit around that and that’s okay. But I’m here and I deserve to be in America just as much as anyone else.’
Debate: While RuPaul commented that ‘drag has always shaken the tree’, Jackie became teary-eyed as she said it was ‘a complex issue’
Struggle: On the U.S. travel ban that prohibits entry for those from Muslim-majority countries, Jackie said: ‘It really destroyed a lot of my faith in this country. And really hurt my family’
Criticising Jeff for his questions, fans took to Twitter to let their thoughts be known as they hit out at the Jurassic Park star.
One viewer wrote: ‘That Jeff Goldblum to Jackie Cox moment on this week’s Drag Race was so deeply uncomfortable to watch.
‘Why did he think that was appropriate? How did it make it to the edit? How was that in any way fair on Jackie? Just so many levels of awfulness.’
Another commented: ‘Now would Jeff Goldblum have asked a Christian queen that same question that he asked Jackie? That was really ignorant.’
While one viewer hit out: ‘I am REALLY not here for Jeff Goldblum’s casually islamophobic critique of Jackie Cox tonight.’
Backlash: Criticising Jeff for his questions, fans took to Twitter to let their thoughts be known as they hit out at the Jurassic Park star
However there were also many fans who came to Jeff’s defence, and said that he had ‘raised valid questions’ and was simply trying to ‘educate himself on the subject.’
One fan said: ‘Jeff Goldblum seemed to be genuinely trying to understand her choices as opposed to being anti muslim…’
While another said of the backlash: ‘Why is Jeff Goldblum getting dragged?! He asked a question wanting to educate himself on the subject, and it gave Jackie an opportunity to give an amazing answer. People need to calm the f*** down.’
Another viewer said: ‘I don’t understand why people are so upset with Jeff Goldblum. He raised valid questions, and Jackie even said that it is hard being gay in her culture because she is not always accepted. He wasn’t being phobic but trying to get educated on the issue. #DragRace’
And another commented: ‘Jeff Goldblum’s question for Jackie is valid and Jackie’s response was also valid.
‘Honestly I think it opens a discussion about religion and its relation to the LGBTQIA+ community that all of us should engage with constructively.’
Supportive: However there were also many fans who came to Jeff’s defence, and said that he had ‘raised valid questions’ and was simply trying to ‘educate himself on the subject’