Nikki Glaser Apologizes After Transgender Influencer Calls Out 'Gross' Joke

Comedian Nikki Glaser has issued an apology after transgender influencer Briel Adams-Wheatley called out a joke Glaser made about her during a stand-up routine. Adams-Wheatley, who was born without limbs due to a rare condition, stated she was unamused when the joke, referencing her transition and physical condition, was brought to her attention.

Adams-Wheatley, 27, gained a significant following with over 1.4 million followers across TikTok and Instagram by documenting her life. She publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2023. The influencer shared a message from an audience member on her Instagram Stories, detailing Glaser's joke and expressing her disappointment.

"Why are you making comments about what is or is not in my pants?" Adams-Wheatley wrote in response to the audience member's description of the joke, which reportedly suggested that Adams-Wheatley transitioned because she had "rubbed her penis off" from dragging herself across the room. Adams-Wheatley also noted that she had purchased tickets to Glaser's upcoming show in November.

Later, Adams-Wheatley posted a screenshot of a message she received from Glaser. In the message, Glaser apologized for Adams-Wheatley finding out about the joke in that manner and stated that the audience member's description was not an accurate portrayal. Glaser insisted she "hates anti trans jokes of all kinds" and would remove the joke from her set immediately.

"I never meant to hurt your feelings at all," Glaser wrote to Adams-Wheatley. "This is not an accurate portrayal of the joke, but I'm sure it's still not fun to hear you're in my act. ... I want you to know my intent. It's a dumb joke and I will lose it immediately. I love you and I'm so sorry!"

The exchange gained traction on social media platforms, including Reddit, where users criticized Glaser's joke and apology. Many commented that Glaser's apology seemed to focus on Adams-Wheatley finding out about the joke rather than the content of the joke itself.

Adams-Wheatley was born with Hanhart Syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting less than one in a million people, which resulted in the non-development of her arms and legs. She also has scoliosis. She previously shared her story of being abandoned as an infant and subsequently adopted by a large family in Utah. Her adoptive mother instilled a strong sense of independence by prohibiting siblings from assisting her with daily tasks, a decision Adams-Wheatley now attributes to her ability to live a self-sufficient life. She successfully manages a household and runs her social media career full-time, with her only physical limitation being her inability to drive.