Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender woman and influencer who documented her transitioning journey online, made her Broadway debut in New York City, playing another controversial queen in “Six” the musical.
Mulvaney, who went viral on TikTok for posting her “Days of Girlhood” series starting in March 2022, was subject to transphobic backlash back when she first started her series and when it was announced she’d play Anne Boleyn in “Six.” Backlash was almost immediate. The musical’s account on X went private as a result of transphobic comments being posted.
“As a production, we unequivocally condemn bullying in all its forms and remain committed to fostering a respectful, supportive environment for everyone involved,” the producers said in a statement, immediately condemning those trying to turn the safe space they’ve created.
Many online have counteracted the hate by reminding people that the musical already has historical inaccuracies by the way the queens are portrayed. One user online said the hate is funny to them, “considering this is a show where Catherine of Aragon is Beyoncé and Katherine Howard is Ariana Grande.”
While the plot of the musical itself discusses six heterosexual relationships, it often blindly casts its queens. The non-binary co-creator of the musical, Toby Marlow, even stepped in for two performances as the final wife, Catherine Parr, in 2019.
Historically, Anne Boleyn was the second of six wives of King Henry VIII in an attempt to produce male heirs to protect his family claim on the English throne. In order to marry multiple women, Henry VIII broke off the Church of England from the Pope and the Catholic Church, turning it into a state-controlled church. This set the stage for the Protestant Reformation in England.
The musical reimagines these six wives as part of a pop competition to see who had it the worst with the King. The musical allows history to be reclaimed as a “herstory.” The opening lyrics describe the inevitable fate of the six wives as: “Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived.”
Behind the scenes videos posted by Mulvaney revealed that she shares a dressing room with Grammy Award Winner Abigail Barlow, who went viral in 2022 for “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” she produced alongside Emily Bear. In “Six,” Barlow plays the fifth wife of Henry VIII, Katherine Howard.
In an interview with Broadway.com, Mulvaney shared that despite all of the backlash from the news, a lot of positivity came from the announcement and she received messages from transgender kids who were inspired by her.
“In the long term, I’d love to help queer and trans people make their art and use what I’ve built to keep the door open,” Mulvaney said.
Through her viral TikTok series, Mulvaney not only documented her physical journey through hormone replacement and facial feminization, but also her journey battling negative comments. She notably called out Caitlyn Jenner for misgendering her and met with former President Joe Biden to discuss access to gender affirming care.
Mulvaney took to the Lena Horne Theatre stage on Feb. 16 as Anne Boleyn. While Mulvaney only posts her “Days of Girlhood” series now on special occasions, she posted day 1,408 on the first day of rehearsal for her role.
“Being a trans person in 2026 when this world is working against us in what feels like every way, for me to be able to step out onto a Broadway stage as Anne Boleyn and perform an iconic historical character’s role in a show that is so rooted in celebrating femininity, I think that’s a miracle,” Mulvaney said in the video.
