Mario Lopez has sparked outrage over comments about trans children, which he made while appearing on The Candace Owens Show. The TV personality best-known for rocking acid-washed jeans in the ’90s talked with the controversial conservative about how Hollywood stars like Charlize Theron have embraced their trans children’s gender identities. Owens described this as a “weird trend.” Things quickly descended into a mix of transphobia, ignorance, and parent-shaming.

“I am trying to understand it myself, and please don’t lump me into that whole [group],” Lopez said to Owens, referring to Hollywood folks who dare to love and support trans children. “I’m kind of blown away too. Look, I’m never one to tell anyone how to parent their kids obviously and I think if you come from a place of love, you really can’t go wrong but at the same time, my God, if you’re 3 years old and you’re saying you’re feeling a certain way or you think you’re a boy or a girl or whatever the case may be, I just think it’s dangerous as a parent to make this determination then, well, OK, then you’re going to be a boy or a girl, whatever the case may be … It’s sort of alarming and my gosh, I just think about the repercussions later on.”

The Access Hollywood host didn’t speak to what those repercussions might be, and no apparent research or understanding was applied in this segment. Further displaying his ignorance, Lopez then went on to conflate sexual orientation with gender identity, saying, “When you’re a kid … you don’t know anything about sexuality yet. You’re just a kid.”

Despite claiming he’s not telling anyone how to parent, the father of three added, “I think parents need to allow their kids to be kids but at the same time, you gotta be the adult in the situation. Pause with that and — I think the formative years is when you start having those discussions and really start making these declarations.”

Lopez also noted his children don’t interact with peers who are transs, saying, “They don’t kick it with those kids.” Wow, Slater. What a cool hip way to express how you’re passing transphobia down to your children.

Here’s how Twitter responded to Lopez’s comments:

Mario Lopez’s suggestion that parents ought not accept their trans kids — kids who face staggering levels of suicide, bullying and other hurdles — is cruel. He conflated sexual orientation and gender identity, which is a pretty big tell that ya don’t know anything about this.

— Alex Berg (@itsalexberg) July 31, 2019

Some of y’all love to read not comprehend but to comply🤦🏽‍♀️ Mario Lopez said it was weird to have conversations w/2&3 year olds about sex & sexuality of any kind Cancel yourself if you are cause that shit is hella’ weird if you are Let a kid be a damn kid🙄🤦🏽‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/b3E8bDe6bJ

— House of Princess J™ (@IamPrincess239) July 31, 2019

It’s okay @MarioLopezExtra. We’re here to help provide more education on what being #transgender means, the difference between #sexualorientation, #sex, and #gender… and a whole lot of other things. https://t.co/ahjYTyenMD

— PFLAG National (@PFLAG) July 31, 2019

Mario Lopez is not only correct but he said what he said politely. 3 year olds aren’t able to choose their gender. I have a 3 year old. She flip flops over being a unicorn, a UFC fighter or a princess still. Anyone shaming @MarioLopezExtra needs to join us in reality. pic.twitter.com/1dkdCFoi1v

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) July 31, 2019

Mario Lopez: It's 'dangerous' for parents to support transgender kids - Yahoo Lifestyle And he gets to keep his stupid job as the host of whatever that damn show is #fool https://t.co/Gvvwu8CgAo

— Tatum O'neal (@Tatum_Oneal) July 31, 2019

Mario Lopez did nothing wrong.

— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) July 31, 2019

saw mario lopez was trending and though maybe he died but it turns out he’s just a transphobe. so he’s dead to me. fuck you, mario bitch face

— dre ✨ (@myeighthwonder) July 31, 2019

Mario Lopez: It’s ‘dangerous’ for parents to support transgender kids

Me: pic.twitter.com/bDZOcfbJRV

— Rendy Jones (@Rendy_Jones) July 31, 2019

Trans kids being accepted by their parents isn’t the only thing Lopez noted is “dangerous.” There’s also that pesky Me Too movement and its hashtags! He told Owens #BelieveWomen can be a “dangerous hashtag because people lie and sometimes those people are women. God forbid you have a son out there, and a girl may have felt a certain way about a situation—dismissed, hurt, whatever—and is feeling vengeful and just decides to tell a certain story that’s not even exactly true, come back and hurt that individual.”

Related: Mario Lopez has been accused of rape. Twice.

mario lopez not only claimed women are liars when they come forward and share their sexual assault experience but he also thinks it’s dangerous for children to explore genders and sexuality. wow so he’s disgusting and cancelled 🤡 pic.twitter.com/TUJVGd2Qmj

— claudia (@C011EENMB) July 31, 2019

When you see Mario Lopez AND AC Slater trending and you check in hopes they are finally doing a real #SavedByTheBell reunion … pic.twitter.com/CYjbySnw5M

— Wes H (@weshardeniv) July 31, 2019

mario lopez’s Wikipedia page: Jesus the internet is fast pic.twitter.com/0nxB9DwuEN

— zack schroeck (@whoareuiam) July 31, 2019

Sources: Yahoo, Pink News

Kristy Puchko is the film editor of Pajiba. You can follow her on Twitter.