Jennifer Stallone, the wife of actor Sylvester Stallone, has weighed in on why she believes children of celebrities appear more likely to identify as transgender, suggesting that parenting styles and the lack of structure in Hollywood homes may play a role.
During an appearance on The Katie Miller Podcast, Stallone was asked why “so many kids in Hollywood and kids of celebrity parents are transgender.”
“Is there something in the water in Hollywood?” host Katie Miller asked.
Stallone replied that she believes the entertainment industry’s culture of self-expression may influence children growing up within it.
“I just think Hollywood is, you know, it’s all about expression,” she said. “So, however you want to express yourself, if you feel like a cat today, you’re a cat. And it’s so loosey-goosey. I don’t think that we’re really understanding that these kids are not our accessories. They’re little human beings that need structure. And structure is really important for them because it helps their brain organize everything.”
‘Too much of everything’ in Hollywood homes
Stallone went on to say that she believes many Hollywood families provide their children with luxury and freedom but not enough structure.
“Growing up in a Hollywood home, there’s really no structure because you have this thing going, and you’ve got private planes, and you’ve got all these giant homes with chefs and secretaries and assistants and housekeepers and nannies,” she said. “And there’s just too much of everything. It gets really confusing for a little person.”
Stallone added that she believes parents should encourage their children to explore their interests while maintaining boundaries and guidance. “It’s OK what you decide to be as an adult,” she said. “But raise them just with good common sense. My daughters were tomboys; they preferred to wear pants instead of dresses, and they loved sports. But I never said, ‘Oh, you’re a boy now.’ I just said, ‘You love to play sports and hang out with boys, that’s awesome.’”
Hollywood parents with transgender children
Several well-known celebrities have publicly supported their transgender children, including Robert De Niro, Gabrielle Union, Jamie Lee Curtis, Charlize Theron, Cher, and Liev Schreiber.
Some of their children came out as transgender as adults, while others did so during their teenage years. Many of these parents have spoken openly about their experiences, advocating for love, acceptance, and understanding within their families.