Jonathan Van Ness Claims Dax Shepard Podcast Edited ‘Significant Pieces’ Out of Trans Debate

Jonathan Van Ness is clearing some things up after they were allegedly given a bad edit during a very important debate.

After the Queer Eye star ended up in tears during a heated conversation about transgender disinformation on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast in September, they claimed that "significant pieces" of the discussion were edited out of the final episode.

"If you listen to podcasts, you know what an edit is — that was an edit, and that was an edit that I asked for approval or insight into, and was not given," they said on Tuesday's episode of the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast.

"So, after that conversation, I did ask for a transcript and what that was going to look or sound like because that was quite a conversation, and I was not given insight into that," added Van Ness. "There were some significant pieces of that conversation that were left out that did ultimately have me in tears."

The Messenger has reached out to a rep for Shepard.

Van Ness — who is non-binary and uses they/he/she pronouns — previously spoke out against "misinformation and disinformation" around gender-affirming care and trans inclusion in sports while appearing on Armchair Expert, after Shepard said Van Ness was framing his dissent as making him "dumb or uneducated."

"I could cry because I'm so tired of having to fight for little kids because they just want to be included," Van Ness said through tears toward the end of the discussion. "I wish people were as passionate about little kids being able to be included or grow up as they were about fictitious women's fairness in sports. I have to tell you I am very tired."

Shepard then pulled back, telling Van Ness: "Sincerely, I did not want you to come in here and challenge your position on any of these things... I'm sure you're disappointed in me."

"I'm not disappointed in you. I'm just emotionally exhausted," said Van Ness.

The conversation came amid nationwide attempts to ban drag shows, LGBTQ+ books and gender-affirming care. During Pride Month, President Joe Biden announced several actions to protect the LGBTQ+ community from these legislative attacks, as he continues to urge Congress to pass the Equality Act.