Actor Elliot Page, who has been making headlines since changing their name from Ellen Page earlier this year, is in the news after reports of a potentially transphobic attack.
According to a glowing profile done by the Los Angeles Times, Page says that last June, a man approached and shouted at them, “I’m going to f**king gay bash you, f**t,” before chasing the actor down the street.
The incident, which was recorded and detailed in Page’s new book, occurred in the busy area of Sunset and La Cienega, where the actor was taking a quick walk to a local convenience store.
“I was just trying to cross the street, and I couldn’t because it was Sunset Boulevard and there was traffic, so I decided in my brain — because he was so tall — that I couldn’t do anything physically. If I said something, he could retaliate. If I turned around, that could trigger something else,” Page wrote in an essay for Esquire.
The severity of the attack has made Page reluctant to take walks in Los Angeles. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Page stated, “Now when I’m in Los Angeles, I don’t feel comfortable like I used to going for walks.”
The police were not contacted, and there has been no corroboration of the claims. This raises the question of why Page didn’t call the police after the incident or why none of the people nearby–including the workers at the convenience store–stepped in to intervene.
This isn’t the first time Page has made news. In 2022, Page was a prominent supporter of Jussie Smollett following the allegations of a “homophobic” attack. However, the case was later determined to be a hoax. This doubt has caused some to question Page’s credibility, with some commentators going as far as to suggest that the actor faked the attack.
The incident comes at a time when there’s been a rise in violence and aggression towards the LGBTQ+ community. Elliot Page’s case serves as a reminder of the resilience of the community and the need to create safe spaces. Society needs to stand in solidarity against bigotry and violence.
