Will Ferrell & Harper Steele Share Shocking Texas Transphobia Stories

The recent excursion of Will Ferrell and Harper Steele to the Lone Star State was regrettably devoid of the renowned southern hospitality often associated with Texas.

While engaged in a dialogue regarding their Netflix documentary Will & Harper, the venerable friends recounted an astonishingly “intense” episode characterized by transphobic microaggressions encountered at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo—an incident that ultimately did not appear in the final edit.

“In a moment of conviviality, I raised a toast, referencing a trans bill,” Steele recounted to The New York Times. “The collective reaction was a palpable reversal, accompanied by a smattering of boos, followed by a woman proclaiming, ‘We still love you.’ While I could be misinterpreting her intent, my immediate sensation was that the ‘still’ implies a degree of conditionality. They profess love for me, provided I conform to traditional norms—essentially suggesting that their affection hinges on my abandoning my trans identity and adhering to their beliefs.”

Steele elaborated, “The atmosphere rapidly turned unsettling. I increasingly felt my trans identity was being scrutinized, which was, to put it mildly, quite uncomfortable.”

It is noteworthy that last year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott enacted Senate Bill 14, which prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The Texas Supreme Court upheld this legislation in June, alongside other measures aimed at restricting public drag performances and mandating transgender athletes’ participation based on their biological sex.

Ferrell expressed feelings of “remorse” and “guilt” for placing Steele in such an uncomfortable situation, remarking, “The most distressing aspect for me is … I feel I let you down in that instance.”

“I was unprepared for the intensity of the moment and recognized my responsibility for not adequately assessing the environment we had entered,” he continued. “I envisioned it as a benign locale for dining on extravagant steaks, only to be confronted with a vast audience, leaving me to question, ‘What are we doing here?’”

Directed by Josh Greenbaum, Will & Harper chronicles Ferrell’s journey as he navigates the revelation that his long-time friend, Steele—who co-wrote Netflix’s Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)—is transitioning to a transgender woman. The film captures their cross-country odyssey, serving as an intimate exploration of friendship, transition, and the multifaceted landscape of America.

Since their initial collaboration on SNL, Steele formally announced her transition to Ferrell and close associates in 2022. Following its premiere at Sundance, Netflix acquired Will & Harper in an impressive eight-figure deal.