This past week, dozens of newspapers and websites around the world decided that Chris Crocker “suddenly” got hot. “Chris Crocker Is a Total Stud” screamed The Frisky, “Chris Crocker – Now a Hunk!” blared an Australian newspaper. “Totally Smokin'” agreed AOL News. “See Chris Crocker’s SHOCK TRANSFORMATION!” touted UK’s Daily Star.

And the comment sections were predictably filled with lots of “Dayum, he got fine!” and “Whoa, that’s the Britney kid? How’d that happen?”

I know Chris, he’s a long-time friend of WOW, and I follow him on Twitter . I find him funny and adorable. So when I saw the headlines, I said to myself “That’s sweet. That must be fun for him.” and then moved along, without giving it much thought.

This morning, though, another long-time friend of WOW, trans activist Andrea James, tweeted

Chris Crocker proves once again to be one of the most thoughtful voices in the #transgender community. So proud!… https://t.co/kCCartlGxB — Andrea James (@jokestress) February 24, 2016

Hmmmm. That’s intriguing. I didn’t even realize that Chris still identified as trans. There was a link to a video on Chris’ Facebook Page, where he had posted a video explaining that while it’s nice to receive compliments, we really don’t know the full story behind his “transition” to hot, bearded hunk. It’s worth watching.

My response to the international “Chris Crocker Got Hot” Headline Posted by Chris Crocker on Tuesday, February 23, 2016

I know a lot of people are going to say ‘just take a compliment.’ Who doesn’t like compliments, right? But what I wanted to say is, we should always feel attractive – not just when society tells us we we are. For many years if my life I’ve identified as transgender, and I’ve not had the finances to transition. And so, living in Tennessee, living in a town where its not safe for me to be my full self, I have… adapted… to my surroundings. So when I hear that I have “gotten hot,” I immediately think, “was I just not hot before because I was androgynous? I think that’s some of it, and I think that’s why I wanted to say that while we all love compliments, in our knowing of who we are and in our confidence, we should beats a million people telling you you got hot. As long as you’re happy with the way you look, and as long as you’re expressing your true self, THAT’S what’s most attractive. And to be honest, I don’t know that I am being my full self. I am being y full self as much as I can in the moment, where I can’t really do anything about transitioning. And people are, like, “Why do you have a beard? Why do have this or that?” – and they don’t know my daily life and my surroundings and circumstances, and living with my family at 28… there’s just a lot of different things. But I just wanted to ay, I appreciate the compliment, of course. But just know that you have the right to feel attractive, not just when society tells you you are. Sometimes the most quirky things about us are what’s most attractive, not just when we blend in and not when we become what society thinks attractive or hot. To everyone out there who might feel different, don’t wait for society to clap for you, or tell you, or affirm you – affirm yourself. Then your confidence will be firm.

Lots to chew on there. It’s true, you never really know what’s really going on in somebody’s life, and I’m sure there are many trans kids around the world who understand exactly what Chris is talking about here.