Valastro (left) and Carrera (right) An American TV network has pulled an episode of reality show Cake Boss after a transgender woman was used as the butt of a nasty transphobic joke. Carmen Carrera, who has appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race and other shows, attacked the way she was treated after being lured onto the programme with the promise she was wanted as a transgender role model. She was actually used in a prank, where the 'Cake Boss' himself Buddy Valastro set up his rival Cousin Anthony by having him meet Carrera at a bar. "Anthony, right now, is on top of the world. He don't know what's coming, baby," Valastro shouted in a voice over as the pair flirted. "That's a man, baby!" he finished, before Cousin Anthony is seen fleeing the bar. In a Facebook posting, Carrera has written: "I'm really trying to be a positive role model for trans people and it upsets me that ... I SPECIFICALLY asked the producers of 'Cake Boss' NOT to disrespect me or trans people. Before I agreed to do this show, I was assured and then reassured that it wasn't going to be like the JERRY SPRINGER show or MAURY. Let me make this clear. CALLING A TRANSGENDER WOMAN A MAN IS WRONG. Period. Its degrading, its rude, and its very hurtful." TV network TLC has pulled the episode, but it's reported it may air with the offending scene rejigged or removed. A producer of Cake Boss and Valastro have apologised. Cake Boss screens on Sky Television's Food TV in New Zealand.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 14th June 2012 - 7:35pm