Caitlyn Jenner is currently stranded in Tel Aviv, Israel, as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate into active conflict. The 76-year-old former Olympian took to Instagram on Friday to share a sobering image of missiles lighting up the night sky, writing, “A ‘quiet’ night in Tel Aviv. There is not a place I’d rather be, than with the brave people of Israel. God, please continue to shield and protect us.”
Jenner, who publicly came out as transgender in 2015, had traveled to Israel to participate in and co-host the Tel Aviv Pride Parade. However, due to heightened regional unrest, local reports confirmed that the annual LGBTQIA+ event was canceled. While many international attendees were able to leave, Caitlyn Jenner remains in Israel as flights out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport have been suspended and surrounding airspace closures remain in effect.
As news of her predicament spread online, Jenner became the target of cruel and transphobic comments across social media. Many comments on the Daily Mail‘s article misgendered her intentionally, using male pronouns and her former name, a common tactic used to demean transgender individuals.
Caitlyn Jenner Misgendered and Mocked in Online Comments
“Don’t feel bad for this guy at all. I hope he stays there,” one commenter wrote, despite Caitlyn Jenner now identifying as a female. Another added, “Good, stay there. Don’t come back.” Some comments attempted to acknowledge Jenner’s views on women’s sports, but still misgendered her, underscoring the persistent struggle trans individuals face, even when being praised. “Bruce/Caitlyn has always been supportive of girls without guys in sports… I’ll always give him/her that,” a user wrote, mixing names and pronouns in a way that many advocates would call disrespectful.
Others doubled down on the hate. “He is just so cringe-weird,” one post read, while another ominously stated, “Oh, how I wish I could speak freely about him!” Despite the online vitriol, Jenner has not responded to the backlash. Instead, her focus remains on safety amid the ongoing missile exchanges in the region.
As of now, there is no confirmed timeline for when Caitlyn Jenner or other travelers will be able to leave Israel, but officials continue to monitor the situation and update flight operations accordingly. Jenner’s presence in Tel Aviv during this crisis adds yet another layer to her already complex public life, one that continues to stir strong reactions on both sides of the cultural divide.
