Drake Bell Deletes Comments About Caitlyn Jenner, But Can’t Stop Controversy Over Apparent Transphobia

Drake Bell appears to be trying to calm the controversy over remarks he made about reality star Caitlyn Jenner, but deleting the Twitter comment appears to have done little to lessen the anger over comments seen as transphobic.

Shortly after Caitlyn, who had been known as Bruce Jenner, debuted on the cover of Vanity Fair, the former child star took to Twitter with a comment many saw as offensive.

“Sorry…” Bell wrote. “Still calling you Bruce.”

The comment seemed to reference the Vanity Fair cover, which read, “Call me Caitlyn”.

Bell later deleted his tweet. and tried to offer an explanation, saying that he wanted to remember Bruce Jenner’s Olympic accomplishments.

“I’m not dissing him! I just don’t want to forget his legacy! He is the greatest athlete of all time! Chill out!” Bell wrote.

Bell later added that he admired Caitlyn for coming out.

“That’s bravery!” Bell tweeted.

But Bell’s explanation didn’t go over well with everyone. Many called out the former Nickelodeon star, who also deleted his subsequent comments.

Drake Bell deleted this tweet faster than he deleted his career. pic.twitter.com/Tpr6Qsigr9

— Samantha Perkins (@_bandsarebae_) June 2, 2015

Even other former child stars joined in.

Oh, Drake Bell. Come on, you’re better than this. — Mara Wilson (@MaraWritesStuff) June 2, 2015

Drake Bell isn’t the only one not on board with Caitlyn Jenner. Her mother, Esther Jenner, told Access Hollywood that she will still call her daughter Bruce — but her explanation was much less controversial.

I still have to call him Bruce. His father and I named him that,” she explained. “It’s going to be a struggle for me to get used to the change, but happily so… I’m very happy for him – or her!”

But others have made more controversial comments about Caitlyn Jenner and about Bruce Jenner before the transition. Shortly after it became public that Bruce was transitioning to live as a woman, Kim Kardashian’s former husband Kris Humphries tweeted what appeared to be a transphobic comment.

“Man, I’m glad I got out when I did. #Gottadoyou,” he wrote.

Like Drake Bell, Humphries tried to explain that he was actually supporting Bruce.

I have and always will support Bruce hence #Gottadoyou. Now recognize I was too vague and sincerely apologize for the way this came across.

— Kris Humphries (@KrisHumphries) April 25, 2015

Since the controversy by insulting Caitlyn Jenner and deleting his subsequent comments, Drake Bell has remained silent on the topic, interacting with fans but not responding to those tweeting about his controversial remarks.

[Image via Getty Images/Jonathan Leibson]