A trans woman on TikTok has suggested that Nirvana lead singer and founder Kurt Cobain is “probably trans” because he often wore women's clothing.
Cobain, who died by suicide at age 27, was one of the most popular rock musicians of the 1990s as he and his band led the grunge revolution until his untimely death at age 27.
Cobain never expressed his opinion on transsexuals, which was not a major topic of discussion in the 1990s, but gave concerts in dresses and often appeared at photo shoots in dresses and makeup, wearing nail polish and eyeliner.
But in a minute-long video shared by @lillytino_, the trans activist goes one step further, presenting a variety of evidence suggesting that Cobain was trans and may have even killed himself due to his inner turmoil.
“I bet you didn't know that Kurt Cobain was probably transsexual.” First, Kurt wore a lot of women's clothing and when asked about it, they said they wore women's clothing “all the time” because they felt “comfortable and free.” said Lilly Contino from Atlanta, Georgia on TikTok. “Just look at Kurt in these pictures.” They look so happy.
The video shared by @lillytino_ quickly went viral as she implied that the late Nirvana frontman was transgender because he often wore dresses on stage
Influencer Contino explained, “Kurt wore women's clothing a lot and when asked about it, they said they wore women's clothing 'all the time' because they felt 'comfortable and free.'
“And in an interview about their childhood, Kurt said that they mostly hung out with girls and that at one point they thought they might be gay,” Contino continued.
“Many trans people who don't yet have the vocabulary to express their gender identity describe their feelings as 'being gay.'” That's exactly what I did in middle school.
“Kurt also quoted him as saying that they identify more with the feminine than the masculine.” “This is clear evidence that Kurt did not identify with the gender he was assigned at birth,” said the influencer with 330,000 followers.
“And the most compelling evidence that Kurt was trans – in an early version of Nirvana’s All Apologies lyrics, Kurt wrote, “Let me grow some balls.” And of course Kurt will never be able to tell us himself.
“The evidence makes it pretty obvious that they were transsexuals.” Maybe that's why Kurt is no longer with us. Maybe Kurt knew we weren't ready yet?' Contino finishes her outlandish theory.
Contino suggested that the fact that Cobain enjoyed spending time with girls as a youth may have influenced his gender identity
Cobain often wore dresses on stage, but there was little conversation about his sexuality in his time
Nirvana's Kurt Cobain in concert at the Forum in Los Angeles, California, in December 1991
Online, suggestions that the rock idol may have been transgender sparked fast and furious reactions.
“Clothes have no gender.” Kurt Cobain is dead. “Let the man rest,” wrote one user.
“Don’t you dare disrespect Kurt Cobain like that,” demanded another.
“Let him rest in peace and don't make assumptions about him.” “He's not here to agree with the denial,” Tina wrote.
“I don't think people are necessarily upset about the Kurt Cobain thing, but rather that you're doing the exact opposite of what you preach, which is assuming someone's gender and metal history,” another explained TikToker.
“Aren’t you the one who constantly gets angry when someone calls you the wrong gender? “You're not Kurt Cobain so there's a lot to say,” one commenter added.
Viewers of the TikTok video were outraged that the trans activist would make assumptions about his gender identity based on such flimsy evidence
Kurt Cobain (center) is seen with RuPaul, Dave Grohl (far left) and Nirvana's Krist Novoselic (far right), as well as Courtney Love with daughter Frances Bean Cobain
Cobain, who died by suicide at age 27, was one of the most popular rock musicians of the 1990s as he and his band led the grunge revolution
Kurt Cobain from Nirvana, right, with wife Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain in 1993
“Please leave Kurt Cobain alone!” You preach so much about people embracing their gender identity. He's not here to defend himself. “Practice what you preach,” said another.
Contino, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, has not yet responded to any of the criticism.
Contino grew up male and was teased throughout high school for his “flamboyant” and “fat” demeanor.
In the past, the influencer has posted videos explaining gender dysphoria, describing it as “a mismatch between the body you were born in and who you are.”
She says companies have now turned to her for advice on trans inclusivity and have even started their own firm, LillyContino Consulting LLC, making her “outing” Cobain all the more surprising.