Tommy Dorfman Calls Out Plane Passenger for Transphobic Remarks

Actress Tommy Dorfman isn’t shy about confronting those who struggle with her transgender identity.

“Objectively, I recognize I’m not ‘passing’ and I can be viewed as ‘bricky’ and ‘clocky,’ but for me, passing has never been the goal, nor should it be for any trans individual,” Dorfman, 33, expressed through a Instagram post on Friday, May 1. “We all have the right to evolve in ways that resonate with us, and that evolution can fluctuate. It’s always been about alignment and autonomy for my own comfort, not for the ease of others or societal expectations.”

Dorfman recounted an incident on a recent flight where a man seated next to her allegedly sent messages about her.

“I am in the first aisle of first class. Guess who’s next to me? A f***ing transsexual transitioning from man to woman,” the supposed text revealed, based on a screenshot shared by Dorfman. “Just my luck. I was hoping for a hot babe.”

The 13 Reasons Why star expressed her offense at the individual’s comments.

“The audacity of this man to openly text about me (and I’ll spare you the deeply misogynistic and grotesque remarks about our flight attendants in contrast to my ‘freak’) only reinforces my choices to feel secure and comfortable in my body and spirit,” she remarked. “This comes at a cost to my safety and comfort in the world, particularly in America, and that’s not without internal and external consequences.”

Dorfman added, “I consider myself fortunate to live this life, to travel freely (for now), and even share experiences like this. You might wonder why I post it—because I can, and this man is an alt-right vampire.”

Dorfman publicly embraced her transgender identity in 2021.

“It’s amusing to consider coming out because I never really went anywhere. I see today as a reintroduction to myself as a woman after undergoing medical transition,” she shared with TIME in July 2021. “Coming out is often treated as a major revelation, but I’ve always been out. Today is about clarity: I am a trans woman. My pronouns are she/her. My name is Tommy.”

She further stated, “I’ve navigated a different version of coming out where I’ve felt unsafe discussing it, so I just carry on. Yet, I appreciate that transitioning is beautiful. Why not allow the world to witness that?”

Dorfman has since channeled her experiences into her work, directing the 2025 film I Wish You All the Best, which tells the story of a nonbinary teen’s journey.

“When I was growing up, I didn’t have social media to build connections within the trans community, and although we have access to that now, I hadn’t encountered a nonbinary character at the forefront of a story like this,” Dorfman exclusively shared with Us Weekly in October 2025. “My hope is that you can relate less by compartmentalizing yourself and find comfort watching a film centered on Ben’s story, allowing you to truly enjoy the experience.”