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Ben Dreyfuss vs. transgender people

Ben Dreyfuss is an American writer best known for being the child of actor Richard Dreyfuss.

The older Dreyfuss has espoused anti-trans views, and the younger Dreyfuss made dismissive jokes about those views. Ben Dreyfuss also appeared on anti-trans podcast Blocked and Reported shortly after making those jokes.

Background

Benjamin D. “Ben” Dreyfuss was born on June 14, 1986 to actor Richard Dreyfuss and screenwriter Jeramie Rain (fka Susan Davis). The couple divorced in 1995. Ben Dreyfuss has two siblings: Emily (born 1983) and Harry (born 1990). Ben Dreyfuss has discussed living with Peters Anomaly, a congenital eye condition that led to loss of one eye as a child.

Ben Dreyfuss earned a bachelor’s degree from New York University in 2008. Ben was social media director at CBS Interactive before taking a similar role at Mother Jones.

In 2020, Ben started the Substack Calm Down, “about how the internet is making us all crazy.”

Trans issues

On May 27 2024, Richard Dreyfuss arrived at a screening of Jaws in a dress, then went on a rant that included attacking trans and gender diverse youth and their families. According to the Boston Globe:

When the remarks turned to transgender kids, [two attendees interviewed] walked out, along with many others.

“He said that the parents of trans youth, allowing them to transition, was bad parenting and that someday those kids might change their minds,” said Diane Wolf, of Salem, who was in the audience. She said Monday that the event is all she’s been able to think about since Saturday.

In one comment that was captured on video, Dreyfuss said, “It’s not okay because when the kid’s 15, she’s going to say, ‘I’m an octopus.’” The crowd can be heard shouting at him.

Ben Dreyfuss trivialized the whole matter, joking that Richard Dreyfuss “pissed off a bunch of the liberals in the audience” and tweeting several things that did not go over well.

Ben Dreyfuss jokes about parent Richard Dreyfuss’ anti-trans rant.

Ben Dreyfuss wrote, “Wow, just looked at my phone and learned about the disgusting outrageous behavior of one of my relatives.” The post shared a text saying that Ben’s sibling Emily now had an Android that would make their text conversations a different color. As the story picked up steam the next day, Ben Dreyfuss added, “Re: my father: well, now you know why I refused to give him the password to his own twitter account for a decade lol. This will be my only statement on the matter. thank you.”

When those jokes went over poorly, Ben later claimed, “the media is lying about my reaction to my dad’s controversy,” then went on anti-trans podcast Blocked and Reported to discuss it with anti-trans activist and troll Katie Herzog.

Bluesky

In November 2024, Ben Dreyfuss joined Bluesky and immediately got into arguments with trans users, writing:

  • I just spent a zillion hours arguing with trans leftists who were calling me a monster and eventually they were like “there is housing discrimination because some women won’t have roommates who aren’t female at birth” and that is the one that finally got me to tap out. No shit
  • Look, I don’t know what to tell ya, sugar tits, that doesn’t sound like a civil rights violation. They also don’t want me as a roommate.
  • I don’t think this is a Trans Problem. I think this is a Leftist Problem that is similar across lots of issues, but more pronounced in tithe [sic] trans debate because there are so few trans people

References

Perry, Todd (December 10, 2024). Richard Dreyfuss shared intimate photos of the moment he realized his son had a congenital disorder. Upworthy https://www.upworthy.com/richard-dreyfuss-shared-intimate-photos-of-the-moment-he-realized-his-son-had-a-birth-abnormality-ex1

Dreyfuss, Ben (November 17, 2024). I just spent a zillion hours arguing with trans leftists […] X https://x.com/bendreyfuss/status/1858408895842222474

Saad, Nardine (May 29, 2024). Richard Dreyfuss’ son distances himself from latest rant, while theater director shares details. Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-05-29/richard-dreyfuss-son-rant-ben-dreyfuss-cabot-director-jaws-screening

Dreyfuss, Ben (May 28, 2024). My Dad Is In The News. The Fake News Tabloids Are Lying About My Reaction. Calm Down https://www.calmdownben.com/p/richard-dreyfuss-ben-dreyfuss-fake-news

Saad, Nardine (May 28, 2024). Richard Dreyfuss’ ‘distressing and offensive’ rant has prompted a Massachusetts theater to apologize. Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-05-28/richard-dreyfuss-theater-apology-women-lgbtq-metoo

Murphy, Chris (May 28, 2024). Richard Dreyfuss Under Fire for Alleged Sexist Rant at ‘Jaws’ Screening. Vanity Fair https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/richard-dreyfuss-sexist-rant

Shankman, Sabrina (May 27, 2024). Beverly theater apologizes after actor Richard Dreyfuss’s offensive comments at “Jaws” event.. The Boston Globe https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/27/metro/richard-dreyfuss-went-on-a-bigoted-rant-at-jaws-screening/

Saperstein, Pat (May 27, 2024). Richard Dreyfuss Sparks Outrage, Massachusetts Theater Apologizes for His ‘Offensive and Distressing’ Remarks at ‘Jaws’ Screening. Variety https://variety.com/2024/film/news/richard-dreyfuss-cabot-theater-offensive-remarks-1236017160/

James, David (July 25, 2022). Jaws drop as Richard Dreyfuss’ son casually admits to hunting a ‘drug addict’ for fun. WGTC https://wegotthiscovered.com/celebrities/jaws-drop-as-richard-dreyfuss-son-casually-admits-to-hunting-a-drug-addict-for-fun/

Puchko, Kristy (December 18, 2020). Who Is Ben Dreyfuss And Why Does He Suck? Pajiba https://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_are_better_than_you/who-is-ben-dreyfuss-and-why-does-he-suck.php

Dreyfuss, Ben (December 13, 2020). A Sunday Story About Having One Eye. Calm Down https://www.calmdownben.com/p/a-sunday-story-about-having-one-eye

Resources

Ben Dreyfuss (bendreyfuss.com) [archive]

Tumblr (tumblr.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Substack (substack.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Bluesky (bsky.app)