Will Ferrell: If the trans community is a threat, that’s from not being safe with yourself


In 2022, Will Ferrell’s best friend of nearly 30 years, fellow SNL alum and frequent collaborator Harper Steele, came out as trans. Being creative people, this led to Will and Harper hatching a plan to do a cross-country road trip, stopping at dive bars aplenty (a favorite pastime of Harper’s), with a film crew in tow. The resulting documentary from that venture, Will & Harper, premiered at Sundance earlier this year looking for a distributor, which they found in Netflix. Will & Harper began streaming last Friday, and its stars just spoke with The Independent to promote the release. The conversation was frank, affectionate, and yes, funny:

Harper wrote a letter to Will about her transition in 2022: “I just ask you as my friend to stand up for me,” Steele wrote. “Do your best to, if I’m misgendered, just speak up on my behalf, that’s all I ask.” Steele didn’t know what her loved ones would think, or the extent to which she’d be treated differently by them. She was also worried about America — before she transitioned, she’d often travel the country and venture to parts unknown, stumble upon the grimiest of far-out dive bars, and make friends with total strangers. Would this no longer be possible? In search of answers, she and Ferrell decided to hit the road together, taking along with them the filmmaker Josh Greenbaum. The result, a touching if melancholy snapshot of friendship and queerness, is streaming on Netflix from Friday.

Will is asked why transphobia exists: “There is hatred out there,” Ferrell continues. “It’s very real and it’s very unsafe for trans people in certain situations.” He ponders my original question. “But I don’t know why trans people are meant to be threatening to me as a cis male. I don’t know why Harper is threatening to me.” The pair have a gentle rapport — there are lots of appreciative smiles back and forth. “It’s so strange to me, because Harper is finally… her. She’s finally who she was always meant to be. Whether or not you can ultimately wrap your head around that, why would you care if somebody’s happy? Why is that threatening to you? If the trans community is a threat to you, I think it stems from not being confident or safe with yourself.”

The film isn’t overtly political: Largely missing, too, is acknowledgement of the political climate into which the film is being released. There is one particularly wince-inducing scene in which Ferrell and Steele shake hands with a US politician at a basketball game in Indiana, only to find out later that he had voted for a raft of anti-trans legislation. But it’s an outlier in a film that prioritises the personal over the political. … “We just wanted to address what it’s like for two people who are friends — what all of this means to us, and to our friendship moving forward. I needed him to see the joy I was experiencing.” Steele breaks into a smile. “And I also wanted to demonstrate to my friend here that I was still funny,” she laughs. “And probably funnier than him.” “Well,” Ferrell corrects, puffed up and mock-offended. “I think that’s debatable.”

[From The Independent]

“If the trans community is a threat to you, I think it stems from not being confident or safe with yourself.” Damn, Will really succinctly hit the nail on the (bigoted) head. It just cuts through to the heart of what’s underneath all that hatred and fear. And not to diminish a serious moment, but it is hilarious to me to contrast this thoughtful, eloquent statement with Will as the Mattel CEO in Barbie, who when asked why there are no women in the boardroom, responds “I have Jewish friends!” I’d like to think Will and Harper would also appreciate the absurdism of that dichotomy.

Full disclosure: I haven’t yet watched Will & Harper, as I unexpectedly had a (fur) baby over the weekend. But it’s on my list and I will see it soon! And part of that is to honor the friends’ wishes: Will and Harper have said it was imperative to them that their doc be released before the election, because “We wanted it to have enough runway for people to get to see it and hopefully start having important discussions in their living rooms.” I mean, I realize I’m not the target demographic for minds/viewpoints they want to reach and, knock wood, open up. But I still want to support them and give them good numbers. And sure, I’m also extremely eager to see more of Harper’s fantastic eye frame collection (the colors!) and to hear her prove how she’s unequivocally funnier than Will.

photos credit: Netflix press

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24 Responses to “Will Ferrell: If the trans community is a threat, that’s from not being safe with yourself”

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  1. Tate says:

    Watched this last night. I thought it was well done.

  2. NJGR says:

    I loved this movie. Seeing how much Harper is loved by Will and Harper’s other friends and her kids is such a joy.

  3. chatter says:

    I’ve never thought Will F was funny. (Most of the former SNL are over rated IMO)
    But he is standing by and supporting his long time friend and I respect that. 👍

    • NJGR says:

      I never cared for him either – he just seemed like a bro. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.

      • smcollins says:

        I’m obviously a fan lol. If you haven’t seen his one-man show as George W. Bush “You’re Welcome America” I *highly* recommend it, it might change your a mind little 😁.
        I’ve been looking forward to this documentary and can’t wait to watch it!

    • Flamingo says:

      I never found him that funny on SNL either. I am not a big fan of shouty humor. But when he did The Landlord video (how cute was Pearl) I don’t know what happened, but I Just fell in love with him and laughed so hard. Now I think he is just hilarious.

  4. Heather says:

    I absolutely LOVED this documentary. I cried (at the ignorance & cruelty of some people) and laughed at the amazing & joyous friendship shared between Will & Harper. Everyone should see this – It’s a testament to love and acceptance.

    • ML says:

      Heather, ITA with what you wrote here, “Everyone should see this – It’s a testament to love and acceptance.”

      WF isn’t a go-to watch for me, but this documentary is totally different and worth it!

    • Lizzie Bathory says:

      Loved it, too. It was sweet, funny & occasionally heartbreaking–a real testament to their friendship.

  5. FairaSara says:

    I watched it this weekend and enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful rendering of friendship – how we don’t always get it right but when the desire to connect and support one another is there, it’s a real gift.

  6. Jais says:

    Okay, I’ve got something to watch tonight. Looking forward to this. Then there heartstoppers s3 and then Agatha. And jeopardy of course.

  7. Mab's A'Mabbin says:

    Thank God.

  8. JanetDR says:

    It is so good. Heartfelt and real.

  9. Walking the Walk says:

    Honestly it was the sweetest thing. There are some unintentional hilarious parts and you can see how well Will and Harper still have that friendship and take cues from each other. Hope it shows other people out there that trans people are not enemies.

    • Old and Tired says:

      It was lovely! Frank and funny in a gentle way. It provides a glimpse into the social dangers of being trans in America that isn’t otherwise very available to straight and cis people.

      The only thing that I wish they had explored a little bit (but I get that this was their experience, not a polemic) was how part of what’s dangerous about being a trans woman is about just being a *woman* in the US. In my opinion, a lot of the policing of trans-ness is really the policing of women and femininity.

  10. sevenblue says:

    “But I don’t know why trans people are meant to be threatening to me as a cis male. I don’t know why Harper is threatening to me.”

    When TERF movement was at its peak, I asked myself the same thing as a cis woman. I have been sexually harassed all my life by cis men since I was a little girl and no one gives a sh*t. Then, I am supposed to believe a small minority is the actual danger to me?? I am happy Will did this project. The manufactured hatred is really incredible against one of the most vulnerable minorities in our society. I still can’t believe that some women participate in this abuse. Those men going after trans women are gonna come after you later, assholes.

  11. Digital Unicorn says:

    I will add this to my watchlist – love Will Ferrell (I watch Eurovision every couple of months and it still makes me cry laugh – Ja Ja Ding Dong).

  12. GoodMorning says:

    I just watched this and it’s fantastic. Will managed to keep the over-the-top cringe to a minimum, Harper is so sweet, it was lovely. One of the things I really loved is the honesty and vulnerability on both of their parts. I love my friend, will he still love me now that I’m different?/I love my friend, how can I show her our bond hasn’t weakened?

  13. K says:

    This is good work. Harper is kind and brave share her journey and Will is decent enough to help her. If anyone wants to know what a good ally does here ya go.

  14. Lissen says:

    Will & Harper were on Seth Meyers last week. Will explained that the politician in question -governor of Indiana?- was so desperate to have a picture taken with him that he was willing to put up with the fact that Harper was trans. What a stupid man!

    Will and Harper are a wonderful example of friendship.

  15. TN Democrat says:

    I can’t stand his humor and detested SNL during his era, but this is hearwarming. I wish more people had the nerve to use their platforms in this way. The magats are so weird and threatening that openly supporting his friend will be dangerous for them both. I wish more people had loudly defended the trans community when q/magats marginalized them because tolerating attacks on trans people has normalized attacks on women, poc, disabled people and pretty much anyone not a middle aged cis white man. Vote blue.

  16. Anna S says:

    I really appreciated the thoughtful questions Will asked and that they left in the awkwardness of some of the exchanges where Harper was misgendered, etc. It kept it real. As a Texan, I was mortified and embarrassed by the response of people in the Big Texan steakhouse. Ugh. But what a beautiful film and friendship.