One of the high points of the most recent Saturday Night Live was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, even better than Alec Baldwin’s Trump being a lot more coherent than Trump: While introducing musical guest Gary Clark Jr. for his second performance, host Don Cheadle wore a brown t-shirt emblazoned with the words “PROTECT TRANS KIDS.”
The Oscar-nominated actor, MCU staple, and star of the new ’80s-set show Black Monday never addressed the shirt, nor did he speak out at any length about the issues involving discrimination, bullying or simply ostracization and otherizing in Trump-era America. He knew that simple would do it, and simple meant simply standing there on one of the most watched and examined — and, if you’re the president of the United States of America, attacked — television programs, showing off three simple words.
Cheadle’s act came about around the same time as out tennis player Martina Navratilova was slamming trans colleagues, saying, “Letting men compete as women is unfair.” On a more uplifting note, it also arrived only two weeks after a long-bullied Georgian trans teen was crowned Homecoming Queen.
The t-shirt was roundly praised on social media.
https://twitter.com/allanbrocka/status/1097018477301231616
https://twitter.com/DanielleSATM/status/1097031564830171136
God bless Don Cheadle. Nothing but respect for MY Rhodey #SNL #ProtectTransKids pic.twitter.com/KtOiJXzotQ
— Rachel || 💖💜💙 (@whydyouhave2BOO) February 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/drdeblk/status/1097010059542814720
https://twitter.com/paramerikate/status/1097010945514065921
https://twitter.com/MiaMarieMacy/status/1097024362622857222
Don Cheadle on Saturday Night Live.
One of the good guys.#ProtectTransKids pic.twitter.com/ZKviMarS4v— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) February 17, 2019
.@DonCheadle wearing a "Protect Trans Kids" t-shirt on #SNL. As a high school teacher who teaches trans kids, I so approve. Thank you.
— J-San (@lawdood) February 17, 2019
@DonCheadle Thank you so much! It’s important that my daughter and other trans kids like her see that they have support from people in all walks of life 👏🏻 #ProtectTransKids @nbcsnl
— Danielle (@fromRytoRylee) February 17, 2019
Don Cheadle wearing a protect trans kids T-shirt on SNL…just another reason why he's one of my favorite actors. pic.twitter.com/ulGTZkFJB2
— BillsMafia Justin 🎃 (@shibez1) February 17, 2019
OH MY GOD HE WAS WEARING A SHIRT THAT SAID PROTECT TRANS KIDS, AS A TRANSWOMAN IN HER TWENTIES WHO HAS DAILY PROBLEMS WITH STRAIGHT BLACK MEN – I LOVE YOU @DonCheadle #ProtectTransKids #TransKids #SNL
— Lena🏳️🌈⁷ (@Shin_Cromartie) February 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/princessjanaepl/status/1097025449090273280
Also on the subject of Cheadle’s SNL attire, the actor closed out the show by wearing a Russian hockey jacket with the name “Trump” on the back with the number 45.
https://twitter.com/adamcbest/status/1097047337342504960
Don Cheadle closed SNL wearing a Russian hockey jersey.
On the back: Trump, No. 45 pic.twitter.com/OSGyvKNMk2
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) February 17, 2019
