Sylvester Stallone’s wife, Jennifer Flavin, has ignited a firestorm after making highly controversial remarks about the rising number of children of celebrities who have come out as transgender. The comments, made during a recent private conversation that quickly spread online, have been described by critics as “out of touch” and “deeply insensitive” — while some supporters claim she is simply “saying what others think in silence.”
The remarks surfaced after a clip from an exclusive dinner event in Los Angeles was shared on social media. In the clip, Flavin can be heard offering what she described as her “personal theory” on why so many Hollywood children are identifying as trans. “It’s not random,” she said. “This town is built on influence and image. I think some of these kids are absorbing everything around them and mistaking that for who they are.”
Jennifer Flavin faces intense criticism after saying she believes “Hollywood culture is pushing” gender identity among celebrity children. @latimes
Her words immediately triggered outrage. LGBTQ+ advocates and allies called the theory dangerous, accusing her of minimizing the real experiences of transgender youth. A representative from the Human Rights Campaign told reporters the comments “echo a long history of dismissing trans identity as social contagion — which is not only false but harmful.”
Flavin, who has largely stayed out of political and cultural debates in the past, appeared to double down when questioned further during the conversation. “These are young people surrounded by fame, pressure, and trends,” she added, according to a guest who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter. “I don’t believe it’s all organic. I think some are being influenced.”
Her comments struck a nerve in a cultural moment already fraught with tension around transgender rights, especially for minors. In recent years, several high-profile celebrity families have publicly supported their transgender children, including Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Charlize Theron, and Cher. Advocates say visibility in these families has helped dismantle stigma, not create it.
“This isn’t about trends,” one LGBTQ+ rights advocate told NBC News. “It’s about kids finally being allowed to live openly and safely — something that wasn’t possible a generation ago. To imply otherwise feeds dangerous narratives.”
“This isn’t about trends. It’s about kids finally being allowed to live openly and safely.” — LGBTQ+ advocate responds to Flavin’s remarks. @NBCNews
The clip has since been viewed millions of times, with reactions polarizing quickly. Some users on X defended her comments as “free speech,” while others accused her of fueling anti-trans rhetoric at a time when transgender youth are facing record levels of discrimination and violence. “This is exactly the kind of casual conversation that normalizes dangerous myths,” one activist wrote.
Public backlash intensified when several celebrities began weighing in. A well-known trans rights advocate called the comments “a slap in the face to every trans kid fighting to be seen.” Actress Laverne Cox reposted the clip with a single caption: “We’ve heard this before. It’s still wrong.” The post quickly went viral, drawing tens of thousands of comments.
“We’ve heard this before. It’s still wrong.” — Laverne Cox reacts to Jennifer Flavin’s remarks. @Lavernecox
According to people close to the Stallone family, Flavin was caught off guard by how quickly her words spread. “She thought she was speaking privately among friends,” one source told TMZ. “She didn’t expect it to blow up like this.”
But advocates say the damage isn’t undone by intent. “When someone with that kind of platform reinforces the idea that trans identity is a ‘trend,’ it emboldens politicians and pundits who are trying to strip away trans rights,” one spokesperson for GLAAD told reporters. “Words have power — especially when they come from high-profile figures.”
In recent years, anti-trans narratives have gained traction in some political circles, often framing gender identity as something “influenced” rather than inherent. Experts have repeatedly debunked this idea. Medical professionals interviewed by The New York Times stressed that transgender identity is not caused by social trends or peer influence, and framing it that way contributes to stigma and mental health risks for trans youth.
“Every major medical association recognizes that being transgender is not a phase or a contagion,” a pediatric endocrinologist said. “Statements like these are not only inaccurate — they’re dangerous.”
“Statements like these are not only inaccurate — they’re dangerous,” says medical expert. @nytimes
As the backlash grew, neither Flavin nor Stallone issued a formal statement. Sources close to the couple told Entertainment Tonight that she is “considering clarifying” her comments, but insiders said she’s also “frustrated by what she sees as a distortion of what she meant.”
Public sentiment remains divided. Some conservative commentators applauded Flavin for “raising questions others are too afraid to,” while others condemned her as “part of the problem.” Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ advocates are urging her to meet with trans youth and medical experts to better understand the harm her comments can cause.
“She has a platform,” one activist told Reuters. “She can either use it to make this worse or to make it right.”
Whether Flavin issues an apology or stands firm, the controversy has already carved its place in a heated cultural debate — one where words from powerful families can ripple far beyond Hollywood’s walls.