‘Felt like a circus freak’

Lea Michele accused of mocking trans model

Transgender model Plastic Martyr was left feeling “like a circus freak” after a run-in with Lea Michele in the women’s bathroom at the 2010 Emmy Awards.

The 33-year-old actress found herself at the centre of bullying allegations after her co-star Samantha Ware claimed she made her life a “living hell” when they worked together on hit musical TV show Glee.

Since then, despite Michele issuing an apology, numerous stars have come forward to reveal more disturbing allegations about the screen star — and now Martyr has come forward with allegations of transphobia from the star.

According to the model, she was left feeling uncomfortable after Michele questioned her decision to use the women’s bathroom, when she was still in the early stages of her transition.

She told Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “I was just trying to get out of there. I said, ‘Excuse me,’ and she’s standing there blocking my reach. She goes, ‘Excuse me?’ and she looks at her friends, looks at me again, and says, ‘Excuse you, you’re in the woman’s bathroom.’”

Adding that Michele brushed off the incident and carried on laughing with her friends, Martyr admitted it knocked her confidence, especially as she was still in the midst of her transition.

“I was dressed, I felt glamorous, and to hear that from somebody who I thought was so beautiful... I went from feeling like I was on cloud nine to feeling like a circus freak,” she said.