NYT Theater Critic Apologizes for Broadway Review Offending 'Transgender and Nonbinary Communities'

Ben Brantley, co-chief theater critic for the New York Times, has apologized for a portion of his review of the Broadway show Head Over Heels. According to Broadway World’s Alan Henry, Ben Brantley “purposefully misgenders a non-binary character, played by trans actress Peppermint (the first openly trans woman to play a principal role on Broadway) – writing ‘Dametas (Tom Alan Robbins), the King’s viceroy and father of Mopsa, finds himself strangely drawn to her – I mean them.’” Henry continued: Brantley seems to invalidate an entire gender identity, writing ‘And its dichotomous nature matches the didactic thrust of a show that celebrates the importance of not being (and pardon me, for trotting out what’s starting to feel like the decade’s most overused word) binary.’ In response, Ben Brantley issued a full-throated apology, along with an explanation of his intent. Here is Ben Brantley's response to the conversation surrounding his review of "Head Over Heels" https://t.co/48Xr2xgOjK. We are updating the review to reflect some of our readers' concerns now. pic.twitter.com/3SjcC1qAuk — NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) July 27, 2018 “I feel horrible about having offended transgender and nonbinary communities,” Brantley wrote. “I was trying to reflect the light tone of the shower, as well