Who is claiming this was transphobic? Has anybody? Other than this thread?
As a trans woman there was nothing at all phobic about that comment. It is pretty much what I would have expected Ann to say.
I have done hundreds of TV interviews over the years whilst never talking about trans matters (I transitioned 45 years ago) and always knew at any time that someone could say such a thing to me. As my trans status was known but never a subject for open debate because I was not pushing an agenda. fighting for rights or talking about the topic.
But even in those circumstances - especially if the interviewer was someone like James Whale who you might expect to be acerbic nobody ever did. They just asked me about why I was there.
Ditto when I was on Woman's Hour. Not a word about being trans.
I know if I were doing this kind of thing today it would be utterly different and I likely would get asked often.
Paris has put herself out there for just that reason and has to be able to take it with grace and respect.
Like me she might feel that she was 'never' really a boy, as in believed or felt like one even as a child. But equally she knows that this was a statement of fact. No more, no less.
So you have to be ready, willing and able to roll with that and talk around it. Or you should not be on TV talking about these things.
It is a controversial subject and there are legitimate arguments on both sides of the debate. You win nobody over by trying to shut them up.