Tommy Dorfman rips into plane passenger sending transphobic texts about her: 'This man is an alt-right vampire'

Tommy Dorfman tore into a fellow passenger she says she caught sending transphobic texts about her.

Entertainment Weekly Tommy Dorfman on April 15, 2026Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty

Key Points

  • The 13 Reasons Why actress took photos of the texts she says she saw while they were on a flight.

  • She captioned her message, "Why post, you may wonder? Because I can and this man is an alt-right vampire."

Tommy Dorfman is slamming a fellow passenger on her recent flight.

The13 Reasons Whyactress, who came out as transgender in 2021,shared a series of photoson Instagram showing an older man texting various contacts about his discomfort over sharing a row with a trans traveler.

"I am in the first aisle of first class. Guess what is sitting next to me? A f---ing transsexual in the midst of going from a man to a woman," the man's text message read. "Just my luck. I was hoping for a hot babe!!"

He added, "Two and a half hours of sitting next to this freak!!"

Dorfman's photos showed the passenger texting the same message to several different recipients.

Tommy Dorfman shares text messages she says she caught a passenger sending about herCredit: Tommy Dorfman/Instagram

The actress shared her reaction to her seatmate's cruelty in her caption.

"The audacity of this man so blatantly blasting off texts about me (sparing you the deeply misogynistic and revolting comments on our flight attendants in contrast to my freak) only reaffirms the choices I've made for myself to feel safe and comfortable in my body and spirit," she wrote. "This does come at the cost of safety and comfort in the world, especially in America, and that's not without consequence internally and externally. I am lucky to have the life I have, the ability to fly freely (for now), and even post s--- like this."

Dorfman also reflected on her appearance. "Objectively, I know I'm not 'passing' and I'm 'bricky' and 'clocky,' but passing hasn't been the point for me, nor should it be for any trans person," she wrote. "We are all allowed to evolve in any way that feels true, and that evolution can expand and contract. It's always been about alignment and autonomy for my own comfort, not the comfort of others or the expectations of society."

In one of the photos, the passenger received responses from a contact named Samantha, who wrote back, "Just remember many people you love are LGBTQ+ and this country sucks for them right now. Be kind!"

Advertisement

Dorfman gave Samantha a shout-out at the end of her caption. "And why post, you may wonder? Because I can and this man is an alt-right vampire AND because Samantha deserves her flowers," she wrote.

TheJane the Virginactress also shared a video of the passenger texting another contact, "The stewardess in the first-class cabin is hot as hell!!!! Offsets the freak!!"

Tommy Dorfman on Jan. 25, 2026Credit: Claudio Lavenia/Getty

In another one of the images, a recipient named Dave joked about the man's request for "a hot babe."

"You got one," Dave wrote. "A brand-new one!"

Dorfman received an outpouring of support in the comments section of her post, including fromAmanda Seyfried, who wrote, "Scared and dumb, all of 'em 'cept Sam."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Actress Pauline Chalamet added, "Whaaaat. The f---. I love you, Tommy."

Kaia Gerber commented, "Loving Samantha."

Ellie Gouldingchimed in, "What a sad, deranged, troubled person. I'm angry. Sending you love."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

Tommy Dorfman rips into plane passenger sending transphobic texts about her: 'This man is an alt-right vampire'

Tommy Dorfman tore into a fellow passenger she says she caught sending transphobic texts about her. Key Points The...
Vanessa Bryant Shares Emotional Post to Mark Her Late Daughter Gianna’s 20th Birthday

Vanessa Bryantis commemorating her late daughter Gianna’s birthday with a poignant post.

Us magazine GettyImages-2183268313Vanessa-Bryant-Marks-Late-Daughter-Giannas-Birthday.jpg

The widow ofKobe Bryanttook to Instagramon Friday, May 1, to mark what would have been her daughter’s 20th birthday.

“Happy birthday to my sweet baby angel, Gianna. Words can’t express how much I love and miss you mamacita,” Vanessa, 43, captioned the post, which featured a throwback image of herself kissing her daughter. “Mommy loves you so much! #HappyBirthday #20 💕💕”

Followers flocked to the comments section to share their support.LeBron James, Kim Kardashian, Kelly Rowland, La La Anthony, Kris Jenner, and Gianna's older sisterNataliawere among those who commented on the post with their love.

Vanessa Bryant’s Life After Kobe’s Death: Businesses and Keeping Daughter Gianna’s Legacy Alive

Kobe and Gianna – along with seven others – were tragically killed in aJanuary 2020 helicopter crashwhile on the way to his Mamba Sports Academy for a basketball game. Kobe and Gianna were 43 and 13 respectively. (Kobe and Vanessa also shared daughters Natalia, 23, Bianka, 9, and Capri, 6.)

Each year, Vanessa remembers Gianna and Kobe on their respective birthdays.

Advertisement

"Happy birthday, Gigi! Mommy loves and misses you more than I could ever express. I love you Gianna. ❤️19 ♉️ 5/1 #Mambacita," posted Vanessa last year.

GettyImages-1005861744-Vanessa-Bryant-Marks-Late-Daughter-Giannas-Birthday.jpg

In 2024, Vanessa reflected on what could have been as she marked what would have been Gianna’s 18th birthday.

“Happy birthday to my gorgeous girl, Gigi! I love you. I miss you. I’m so proud of you,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “2024 was your year. You would’ve been graduating high school and choosing which college to go to. (I would’ve been trying my hardest to convince you to stay close to home).”

Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant: A Timeline of Their Relationship

Meanwhile, Vanessa shared anemotional tribute to Kobein August 2025 to mark what would have been the NBA star’s 47th birthday.

“We love and miss you and Gigi so much,” Vanessa wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of the couple sharing a kiss. “Sending our love to you. Happy birthday, baby. @kobebryant ❤️.”

Vanessa and Kobe first met on the set of Eastsidaz’s “G’d Up” music video in 1999, where Vanessa was working as a backup dancer. They tied the knot in 2001 before welcoming their daughters.

Following Kobe and Gianna’s deaths, Vanessa sued Los Angeles County for invasion of privacy and negligence after Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department employees took and distributed photos of the helicopter crash. In August 2022, she was awarded $16 million in damages. The following year, she settled for nearly $29 million, all of which was donated to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

Vanessa Bryant Shares Emotional Post to Mark Her Late Daughter Gianna’s 20th Birthday

Vanessa Bryantis commemorating her late daughter Gianna’s birthday with a poignant post. The widow ofKobe Bryanttook to Instagram...
“Love Boat” star Jill Whelan says producer tried to trick her into losing weight

Actress Jill Whelan played young Vicki Stubing on The Love Boat between 1978 and 1987.

Entertainment Weekly Jill Whelan on 'The Love Boat' in 1984Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Key Points

  • A teen at the time, Whelan recalls a producer tricking her during wardrobe fittings so she would feel pressured into weight loss.

  • Whelan, who's now 59, remembers being on a 400 calorie-a-day diet around the same time.

Actress Jill Whelan treasures the relationships she formed while making classic TV seriesThe Love Boat— mostly.

But she feels differently about late producer Douglas S. Cramer, whom she remembers as "a misogynist."

She recalled a particularly cruel move that involved her and fellow actress Lauren Tewes in a resurfaced interview on Steve Kmetko'sStill Here Hollywoodpodcast.

"We would come to a wardrobe fitting at a new season," Whelan said, "to get new uniforms and new evening gowns and new loungewear, and he would call the wardrobe department and tell them to buy everything one or two sizes smaller than we are so that we would come in and be embarrassed in fittings about things not fitting."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Cramer, one of the producers onThe Love Boat, died in June 2021. He was an accomplished producer, with credits includingDynasty,Hotel, andWonder Woman.

Whelan played Vicki Stubing, the daughter of Gavin MacLeod's Capt. Merrill Stubing, between 1978 and 1987, on the popular dramedy. During that time, she went from an 11-year-old kid to a young adult.

So, yeah, her body changed.

Advertisement

"I remember one time, and at that particular time I was going through puberty, and it's, you know, things happen in puberty," Whelan said. "I had gone to a fat farm, or I guess you would say today a spa. I went to a spa in Ojai and I had lost some weight and I was also working with some crazy doctor who had me on 400 calories a day."

She looked back at another difficult moment on the ABC series earlier this month.

"I remember one time when I was just 13 and quote unquote becoming a woman, the very day of," Whelan said on thePatrick Labyor Sheaux With Patrick Labyorteaux,"and I was doing a scene with Loni Anderson, and we were in the purser's lobby, and I used to get everything in one take. I didn't mess up like that. And I couldn't get this line out. I couldn't get it out."

Whelan in 2024Credit: Rocket Weijers/Getty

Shestarted to cry, but her costar Tewes, who portrayed cruise director Julie McCoy, helped her when she "admonished the director and said something to the effect of 'leave her alone, this is not helping her at all, and all you're doing is making things worse.'"

Still, Whelan, who's now 59, has often spoken highly of most of her years on the ABC series and her colleagues.

The star's later career has included appearances on shows such asCriminal MindsandThe Bold and the Beautiful.

Listen to the full conversation between Whelan and Kmetko above.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

“Love Boat” star Jill Whelan says producer tried to trick her into losing weight

Actress Jill Whelan played young Vicki Stubing on The Love Boat between 1978 and 1987. Key Points A teen at the t...

 

KOS MAG © 2015 | Distributed By My Blogger Themes | Designed By Templateism.com