Harper Steele (formerly Andrew Steele) is a renowned American writer celebrated for her long-standing Saturday Night Live (SNL) career.
Key Takeaways
- Harper Steele’s (Andrew) transitioning journey has been captured in a recent Netflix documentary “Will & Harper”.
- During a promotional event for the documentary, both Harper (Andrew) and Will made a statement expressing their support for transgender youths in England and around the world.
- However, this statement has created a notion among the public that they are allegedly encouraging the children to transition.
Born and raised in Iowa City, Steele grew up in an academic household as the child of two University of Iowa professors.
Despite describing herself as a “C-minus student” who struggled with spelling in high school, she found her place within the theater department during her senior year, which sparked her creative interests.
After graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in English, Steele pursued her passion for writing, eventually rising to prominence in the entertainment industry.
Soon after, she joined as a writer for the renowned show Saturday Night Live (SNL), where she worked from 1995 to 2008.
During her tenure, Steele made her mark as head writer from 2004 to 2008, helping shape the comedic voice of the show during a pivotal era.
Her work earned her significant recognition, including one Primetime Emmy Award out of four nominations.
However, in 2022, Steele embarked on a deeply personal and transformative journey by beginning her gender transition.
Andrew (Harper) Steele’s Recent Featured Documentary
This journey is now recently featured in the Netflix documentary Will & Harper, which follows a cross-country road trip between Steele and his long-time friend Will Ferrell.
The documentary captures their journey as Ferrell gets to know Steele following her transition, offering an intimate and insightful look into their evolving friendship.
It has garnered significant acclaim within the LGBTQIA+ community, but it has also become a topic of lively discussion for various reasons.
One notable aspect is the intentional timing of the documentary’s release, just a few weeks before election day.
Speaking on this, Will Ferrell explained,
“When we sat down with Netflix we made it clear that we wanted this out before the election. We wanted it to have enough runway for people to get to see it and hopefully start having important discussions in their living rooms.”
Via Variety
This decision reflects a subtle political agenda aimed at promoting awareness and advocating for the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Andrew (Harper) Steele’s Statement Regarding Youths
However, another reason that the documentary has sparked considerable discussion is the statement made by Steele and Ferrell during a promotional event for their recent release.
A video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) has drawn significant attention, in which both Harper and Will express their support for transgender youths in England and around the world.
Hollywood comedian Will Ferrell and his trans co-star Harper Steele send message encouraging children to be Trans.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) September 18, 2024
“To all the wonderful trans youth in England and across the world. I support you.”
Will Ferrell:
“I support you as well.”
pic.twitter.com/rJ0JE3SKXK
Now, this statement has somehow created a notion among the public that Will and Harper are allegedly encouraging the children to be trans.
Many people have voiced their concerns in the comments, expressing their dissatisfaction with the duo’s statement.
“It’s concerning when celebrities like Will Ferrell use their platform to push such messages on children. Encouraging young kids to explore complex identities like this feels irresponsible, especially when they’re still figuring out who they are.”
Via X (Formerly Twitter)
However, both Will and Harper (Andrew) have not yet responded to the controversy.
Although Harper Steele and Will Ferrell’s documentary has effectively fostered important discussions about gender identity and support for trans youth, it has also stirred controversy regarding the impact of their statements on children.
While their advocacy for trans youth has resonated with many, it has also raised legitimate concerns about the potential effects of these messages on younger viewers.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Harper (Andrew) and Will started their tenure at SNL in the same week in 1995.
- Steele won an Emmy Award in 2002.
