April 27, 2015
‘OITNB’ Star Laverne Cox Thanks ‘Courageous’ Bruce Jenner
“Extra's” AJ Calloway caught up with Laverne Cox at The White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington D.C., where the “Orange is the New Black” star revealed she spoke with Bruce Jenner just hours after his emotional “20/20” interview aired. “I spoke with Bruce today and we spoke a couple months back, and they were really happy with the way Diane Sawyer and ABC handled the story.”
Laverne said Bruce was in “really good spirits,” and thought Jenner's decision to share his story was courageous, “I've always believed any transgender person coming forward and living visibly and telling their story is revolutionary in a world that tells us we shouldn't exist, that move is deeply courageous.”
As for her thoughts on the special, she said, “I think a lot of people tuned in last night expecting to see a media spectacle and they tuned in and saw a human being, a beautiful human being, who is deeply courageous, a parent, someone who is deeply concerned about their family.”
Laverne recalled a phone conversation she had with Bruce, “One of their kids called when we were on the phone, and they we're coming over, and what I was struck by the couple of times I spoke to Bruce was how much they love their family, how much they're proud of their children, and really just care about how this is all gonna affect them, and came forward, and their hope to help people and to save lives.” She added, “I think it is really beautiful.”
