Back in April, Luxe lingerie brand Honey Birdette came under fire for posting a photo featuring non-binary burlesque performer and model, Jake Dupree. The saucy lingerie label was bombarded with hateful comments on their Instagram account after they shared a photo of Jake looking like an absolute SNACK in one of the brand’s ruby three-piece sets.
We had a chat with Jake, who has recently landed in Sydney to perform burlesque in the Blanc De Blanc Encore show, about finding themself in the spotlight – and not for the fabulous reason they’re used to.
“This is such a layered thing. I was thankful for all of the press and attention but in that, it came with a lot of weird feelings because this is not the first time this sort of thing has happened to me,” they shared.
“This was the first time it went to this extent. It was covered on Fox News. There’s actual news to be talking about in the world and this is what you’re choosing to focus on?”
“When I heard that [Honey Birdette] was going to repost [the photo], I’d even warned them that this had happened before but not to a brand with this many followers or for a brand that doesn’t usually post a lot of queer or male-identifying bodies. So I knew that the hate would be coming, I just didn’t know it would be coming at the extent that it did.”
Sadly, Jake revealed that their friends and family began copping threats of violence on their social media accounts too.
“I’m not going to post any pictures of my family anymore because these people were posting gun emojis on pictures of me with my family,” they said, explaining that they truly felt scared for their safety in the United States.
“That’s the scariest part, I had never had [a situation] where I was questioning my own safety. That was the scariest part of the whole thing.
“I signed up for this stuff, I know with how I present and what I do, I know it comes with criticism and people’s opinions on it, which is fine and I’m okay to handle that. But when it comes to other people, it does make me think ‘Why am I doing this, is it worth it?’”
But thankfully Jake was able to find a bit of humour throughout the whole thing: the fact that people thought a picture they snapped in their friend’s house was a full-on left-wing campaign to indoctrinate the masses to the non-binary by Honey Birdette.
“It’s so funny people think this is a campaign when I wasn’t even paid for that picture. It was literally me in my friend’s house, in this at-home studio. Honey Birdette had sent me a free set of lingerie and I went to my friend’s house and we took a picture. I didn’t even have shoes on in that picture,” they said.
“If somebody wants to consider it a campaign, I’d gladly accept that.
“I would be open to the idea of that later but it was definitely just me wanting to be vain on Instagram.”
To be totally honest though, I can see why everyone was bamboozled. The pics are drop-dead gorgeous.
Back in April when the scandal was in full swing, Hypebae reported that a lot of the comments were concerned over “what a ‘real’ woman is,” and that the post had been completely flooded with phobic opinions. Right wing commentator Rita Panahi also chimed in, sharing the photo to Twitter and calling Honey Birdette a “#Fail.”
As the hate piled on the post, Honey Birdette responded by cutting off the comment section and editing the original caption of Dupree’s photo to fit their statement.
“UPDATE: Honey Birdette fosters an inclusive and diverse environment, and we will continue to use our voice to empower and support the LGBTQ+ community, women, and anyone who wants to feel fabulous in our lingerie. While thoughtful and constructive discussions are important to push culture forward, hate speech and bullying will not be tolerated on our channels. Comments of this negative nature will be deleted. @jakedupree, you are so talented and have our full support!,” Honey Birdette wrote in response.
Honey Birdette has been problematic in the past, but this shoot with Jake Dupree is one of the things the brand has done right.
At the time, Jake responded to the backlash via their personal Instagram account.
Alongside a photo from the Honey Birdette post, Dupree posted a lengthy caption thanking those who stood up for them.
“Days like this are tough, but I’m tougher. Thank you for so much love and support today,” Dupree wrote.
“I heard from so many of you, and I genuinely appreciate all your kind words…and some funny comebacks that really made me laugh. Putting yourself out there is always open to criticism and differing opinions, but I think there’s a kinder, more understanding bridge to be built between those differences.”
Dupree’s post was flooded with messages of support and love.
One user wrote, “With being a trailblazer, comes haters. Keep SHINING and blazing the trail Jake. Love you!!!!”
Another wrote, “The way you handle it is the most beautiful and graceful thing. I love you, I’m proud of you always.”
The online hateful comments towards Honey Birdette and Jake Dupree came after a slew of anti-LGBTQI+ actions this year.
In March, 200 people from the ‘Christian Lives Matter’ movement allegedly attacked 15 queer protestors and earlier in the same month, the Christian Lives Matter marched through Newtown Sydney during WorldPride while being escorted by police.
In March, Nazis protested against trans folk outside of Victoria Parliament, in April a NSW Police officer was snapped posing with a man who was wearing a t-shirt that had an anti-gay slur, and a Melbourne cafe had to cancel a children’s Easter event hosted by drag queens due to bigots attempting to find and share the performer’s addresses.
It’s truly a scary world out there, and change needs to happen ASAP.
If you’d like to talk about the issues raised in this story, you can call the QLife LGBTI peer support hotline on 1800 184 527 or chat online.
QLife operates between 3pm and midnight daily.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
