Smosh star Amanda Lehan-Canto apologizes to the queer community following her controversial appearance on the ‘Two Dykes and A Mic’ podcast.
Amanda Lehan-Canto, a well-known cast member of the popular YouTube comedy group Smosh, is at the center of a growing online controversy. The comedian and actress appeared as a guest on the August 25, 2026, episode of the podcast Two Dykes And A Mic. During the episode, she used a derogatory slur for lesbians multiple times, which quickly sparked outrage across social media.
The backlash was immediate, with many in the queer community expressing disappointment and anger. In response to the criticism, Lehan-Canto issued a public apology on her Instagram Stories on August 26.
What Happened on the Podcast
The controversy began when Lehan-Canto appeared on Two Dkes and A Mic*, a weekly queer podcast hosted by comedians Rachel Scanlon and McKenzie Goodwin, who identify as lesbian and queer. During the conversation, she asked the hosts if she could say the slur, saying, “Can I say d*kes?”.
McKenzie Goodwin replied that the word is in the podcast’s name but jokingly told Lehan-Canto not to say it with “that tone”. The Smosh star laughed and responded, “It’s just my accent,” before adding, “Like, I was told you’re not allowed to say d*kes anymore”. She then repeated the slur several more times throughout the episode.
Rachel Scanlon tried to lighten the situation by saying that since Lehan-Canto is over five feet tall (she is actually six feet), it was “good” for her to use the term. Lehan-Canto even noted during the recording that the comment section would likely be filled with people counting how many times she said it.
Social Media Outrage and Backlash
After clips from the podcast circulated online, the response from the queer community and general audience was swift and harsh. Many fans expressed their disappointment, especially given Lehan-Canto’s status as a beloved figure in the comedy and online entertainment space.
One X user shared the clip and wrote: “1) this is embarrassing. Amanda should’ve NEVER said the slur. The hosts should’ve known better and educated her. Clip should’ve never made the final cut”.
Another user expressed deep disappointment, saying: “I was devastated hearing it from Amanda”. A third individual wrote: “Came online to see Amanda Lehan-Canto using a slur against my community MULTIPLE times”.
Some fans were particularly critical because Lehan-Canto has never publicly spoken about her sexual orientation and is married to a man. One Tumblr user commented: “baby you have a husband and a child and have said you’re straight many many times, why would you think it’s okay to say a slurrrr??????”.
Others questioned why the podcast hosts allowed the comments to continue. One person wrote: “1) why did they have her on the podcast and 2) why did they let her say it so many times”.
However, not everyone was critical. Some fans defended Lehan-Canto. One person stated: “As a lesbian Smosh fan, I do not give a F*K if Amanda Lehan-Canto says dke around her dke friends who give her the okay to do it around them”. Another simply wrote: “Amanda Lehan-Canto is allowed to say dke, idc”.
Amanda Lehan-Canto Issues an Apology
Facing mounting criticism, Amanda Lehan-Canto released a statement on her Instagram Stories on August 26. She thanked her followers for giving her time to gather her thoughts and acknowledged the feedback she had received.
“I want to acknowledge that I am deeply sorry to the people of the queer community who I’ve offended and hurt. Truly, I hear your concerns. I’m learning and again I sincerely apologize for any harm I may have caused.”
While some accepted her apology, others remained unsatisfied. Critics pointed out that her statement referred to the incident as “a conversation on a podcast” rather than directly acknowledging that she used a lesbian slur. Some also noted that she directed the apology to the “queer community as a whole” rather than specifically to lesbians.
Podcast Hosts Respond by Editing Episode
In the wake of the backlash, Rachel Scanlon and McKenzie Goodwin briefly took down the episode from their feed. They later reuploaded it but removed the controversial portion where Lehan-Canto used the slur.
Some social media users were not satisfied with this response either. One person on Tumblr wrote: “the podcast hosts cutting out Amanda saying the slur instead of apologising isn’t them saying sorry either (especially bc they were deleting comments before they took it down)”. As of now, the hosts have not directly addressed the backlash themselves.
Who Is Amanda Lehan-Canto?
Amanda Lehan-Canto is a 38-year-old American comedian, actress, screenwriter, and voiceover artist. She is best known as a full-time cast member on the YouTube sketch comedy channel Smosh, where she is known for her character work and improv skills.
Born on February 14, 1988, in Easton, Massachusetts, she began her career working in the newsroom as a writer for NBC 7 News. She also studied improv at Improv Boston and later performed with the prestigious Groundlings Sunday Company in Los Angeles.
Lehan-Canto has been married to her husband, Hardzei “HP” Perapechka, since May 2023. The couple dated for over eight years before getting engaged in New York City in January 2022. In April 2025, they announced they were expecting their first child, and their baby boy, Cole, arrived in October. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her family.
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Divided Reactions Continue
The controversy has divided the online community. While some have accepted Lehan-Canto’s apology and moved on, others continue to hold her accountable. Some fans have expressed disappointment in having to “step down” from being a supporter.
The situation also raised questions about who can use certain words and the responsibility of public figures to be mindful of their language, especially when appearing on podcasts with specific audiences.
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