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#BoycottUlta Trends After Ulta Features TikToker Dylan Mulvaney in Podcast

October 17, 2022

Ulta Beauty has received backlash due to a clip from their sponsored bi-weekly podcast “The Beauty Of…”. The podcast, posted last Thursday, had TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney on to talk about trans girlhood. Anti-trans activists and TERFs accuse Mulvaney of appropriating womanhood and claiming that Ulta Beauty was promoting “misogynistic” values. The negative response led to #boycottulta trending on Twitter.

The actress-turned-model/comedian has gained over 8.3 million followers on TikTok through a series documenting her transition called “Days of Girlhood”. David Lopez, beauty expert and host of “The Beauty Of…” chats with Mulvaney about her transition, girlhood, and finding confidence through online hate.

Trans Girls Can Do It All! Tune into the latest episode of The Beauty Of… where host @DavidLopezzz sits down with guest Dylan Mulvaney to chat all things girlhood Watch now: https://t.co/tCRfEryYkZ pic.twitter.com/uaXJqEBQI9

— Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty) October 13, 2022

In the clip posted to Ulta’s social media, Mulvaney talks about her desire to find love and become a mom on the podcast.

“And now I know I can find love, I know I can still be a performer…I want to have a family, I want to be a mom one day and I absolutely can” Mulvaney says. “…The narrative still has a long way to go because when I was grieving boy Dylan, I didn’t know those things were even accessible to me”.

TERFs (Trans exclusionary radical feminists) descended on Ulta Beauty’s post misgendering both speakers and accusing them of “wearing femininity as a costume”.

https://twitter.com/freckle_the/status/1581700111402295296?s=20&t=RDvHh1qEef6VyK44plMm0A

We believe that beauty has no boundaries, and we want to create an environment where all expressions of beauty are welcome.

— Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty) October 15, 2022

We want our channel to be welcoming to people from all walks of life—even people you may not agree with.

— Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty) October 15, 2022

Ulta Beauty’s social media were quick to respond to the negative replies on Twitter, asserting where the brand stands with gender identity and equality.

dialogue is one important way to move beauty forward.  The intersectionality of gender identity is nuanced, something David and Dylan acknowledge themselves within the episode. Regardless of how someone identifies, they deserve our respect. (2/2)

— Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty) October 16, 2022

“The premise of ‘The Beauty Of…’ is to feature conversations that widen the lens surrounding traditional beauty standards. We believe beauty is for everyone. And while we recognize some conversations we host will challenge perspectives and opinions, we believe constructive dialogue is one important way to move beauty forward.  The intersectionality of gender identity is nuanced, something David and Dylan acknowledge themselves within the episode. Regardless of how someone identifies, they deserve our respect, ” reads Ulta Beauty’s statement.

Mulvaney is not new to the backlash surrounding her transition. Recently she responded to a conservative TikTok video mocking her appearance and speech. Her response video, which has over 6 million views, focused on the positives of her transition.

After being asked how she’s figured out what girlhood is through her transition, Mulvaney says she still needs time.

“The bottom line was when I came out publicly as a girl on that first day, I had no idea what girlhood was. That’s the whole point. I still don’t. I’m freaking figuring it out every day. And you have to let people figure those things out because the constant critique I was getting was like, ‘oh, this girl thinks it’s all about makeup’…Because I didn’t know anything else. I hadn’t had an opportunity, babe.