One Nation MP Cory Bernardi faces backlash for anti-trans slur and incel remarks at protest
Cory Bernardi was condemned by protest organisers after he used a trans slur and called demonstrators "incels" during a rally outside South Australia’s parliament.
At a protest on the steps of South Australia's parliament, One Nation MP Cory Bernardi recorded the event and repeatedly shouted a trans slur, later referring to the demonstrators as a "bunch of incels." Organisers, including 17-year-old Sam Ats and transgender university student Jordan Armstrong, denounced his remarks as bullying and embarrassing. Hundreds of attendees, many of them high-school students, chanted slogans against Pauline Hanson and Bernardi, with some shouting profanity at the MP.
Bernardi later posted two Instagram videos describing the crowd as "weirdos" and "total losers," adding that they were promoting socialism. He defended his comments by dismissing the protesters as unintelligent and unemployable. One outlet has sought comment from Bernardi and One Nation.
Why it matters
The incident highlights rising tensions around political protest, LGBTQ+ language and youth activism in Australia.
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