Renowned shock rocker Alice Cooper has found himself entangled in a storm of controversy following his recent transphobic remarks during an interview with Stereogum. The fallout from his comments has resulted in a significant consequence—a makeup brand partnership termination.
Cooper’s partnership with Vampyre Cosmetics, a goth-themed makeup company that proudly champions ownership by women, disabled individuals, and members of the LGBT+ community, has come to an abrupt end due to his remarks. The collaboration, which had been established just two weeks prior, crumbled in the wake of his comments and the ensuing backlash.
Taking to Instagram, Vampyre Cosmetics released a statement announcing their decision: “In light of recent statements by Alice Cooper we will no longer be doing a makeup collaboration. We stand with all members of the LGBTQIA+ community and believe everyone should have access to healthcare. All pre-order sales will be refunded.”
Cooper’s transphobic stance emerged during his Stereogum interview, where he voiced concerns about the possibility of people falsely identifying as transgender in order to exploit access to gender-specific facilities, particularly restrooms. This widely discredited argument, which is deemed a discriminatory anti-LGBTQ myth, suggests that men could claim to be transgender women to gain entry to women’s spaces.
Cooper argued, “A man could enter a women’s bathroom at any moment and simply claim, ‘I feel like a woman today,’ enjoying the experience without truly identifying… He’s essentially exploiting the situation. Consequently, this scenario will eventually lead to a crime such as rape, and the individual would rationalize it by saying, ‘I felt like a girl at that moment, and then I felt like a guy.’ The question arises—where do we draw the line?”
Furthermore, the musician exhibited doubt regarding gender-affirming health care, raising questions about the genuineness of those who identify as transgender. He explained, “While I acknowledge the existence of transgender cases, I’m apprehensive that it might also be considered a trend, and I’m concerned that numerous individuals are asserting themselves as transgender solely for personal preference. It troubles me, especially when it involves a six-year-old child who lacks understanding. They simply want to engage in play, and telling them, ‘Sure, you’re a boy, but you can choose to be a girl if you wish,’ appears misguided.”
Cooper’s recent interviews haven’t only ignited backlash due to his transphobic remarks. In a separate interview with Vulture, he downplayed the high-profile defamation trial between his friend and bandmate Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard, leading to further debate and criticism.
As the fallout continues, Cooper’s comments serve as a reminder that even in the world of entertainment, harmful remarks can have real-world consequences, affecting partnerships and igniting important conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and gender-affirming care.
