Will Ferrell and his longtime friend and collaborator, Harper Steele, are the subjects of a new documentary, Will & Harper, detailing their cross-country road trip in the wake of Steele’s coming out as transgender. Ahead of its premiere on Netflix, Ferrell opened up about his support for the trans community and decried the irrationality of transphobia.
“I think we fear what we don’t know,” Ferrell told The Independent when asked if transphobia exists. “There is hatred out there. It’s very real and it’s very unsafe for trans people in certain situations… But I don’t know why trans people are meant to be threatening to me as a cis male. I don’t know why Harper is ‘threatening’ to me.”
He continued, “It’s so strange to me, because Harper is finally… her. She’s finally who she was always meant to be. Whether or not you can ultimately wrap your head around that, why would you care if somebody’s happy? Why is that threatening to you? If the trans community is a threat to you, I think it stems from not being confident or safe with yourself.”
Directed by Josh Greenbaum, Will & Harper sees the two titular comedians rediscover their friendship through an adventurous road trip, as Steele embraces her true identity and Ferrell learns more about his friend, the trans community, and how to be supportive. Speaking to Variety earlier this year, Ferrell explained that he had “zero knowledge” of the trans community prior to Steele’s coming out.
“[That’s] why I think this film is so exciting for us to kind of put out there in the world,” Ferrell said. “It’s a chance for all of us in the cis community to be able to ask questions and also just to listen and be there as a friend to discuss this journey.”
Will & Harper is now streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer below.