The Daily Wire’s feature-length comedy, “Lady Ballers,” was marketed as the most “triggering” comedy of the decade. And as predicted, critics were willing to try almost anything to let the air out of the game ball — even before the December 1 launch.
A review of the film’s trailer, published by LGBTQ Out Magazine on November 28, attacked the film’s premise — saying that it was wholly ridiculous to think that men might capitalize on an environment where gender self-identification was beyond contestation and use the new “rules” to take the winnings for themselves.
It takes the false idea that anywhere at any time a cis man can claim he is a woman and enter any women’s sporting event. But the fun doesn’t stop there. It goes even further, saying that when cis men do that, they become unstoppable forces on the field.
It almost seems like the people who made the movie understand that if their premise was real, there would be real-life examples of groups of men like this taking over women’s sports. There aren’t.
Not to rain on Out’s PRIDE parade, but The Daily Wire is calling — well — foul.
Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro commented on the sad state of affairs over a year ago when trans-identifying University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas — who was every bit the biological male at the time — won the NCAA championships in the women’s 500 Freestyle.
“All the best women are men,” he captioned a photo of the winners’ podium — which showed Thomas towering at least a full foot over his female competitors.
All the best women are men pic.twitter.com/BBRWvJOHKS
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 18, 2022
That comment — “All the best women are men” — later became the title of a podcast episode that ran during this year’s Women’s History Month. That episode referenced trans-identifying influencer Dylan Mulvaney — who single-handedly tanked Bud Light’s market capitalization with one 30-second social media video — and Sam Brinton, President Joe Biden’s luggage-stealing non-binary former deputy assistant secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy.
But as it relates to athletics, there are a number of biological males who are not only taking advantage of the fluid rules on gender — they are also taking ribbons, medals, and prize money from the women who worked their entire lives to achieve greatness in their respective sports.
Lia Thomas
In addition to winning the NCAA championships in the women’s 500 Freestyle, Thomas also tied with Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines for fifth place in the women’s 200 Freestyle event. Gaines has spoken out about the fact that while they were apprised of the fact that they would be competing against a male swimmer, no one was warned prior to the event that Thomas — again, still a fully intact male — would be allowed full access to the women’s locker room while the female swimmers were changing their clothes.
When it came time for photos at the podium, there was only one 5th place trophy – and for the sake of appearances, Thomas was given the trophy to hold.
“Hey, I just want to let you know, we only have one fifth place trophy, so yours will be coming in the mail. We went ahead and gave the fifth place trophy to Lia, but you can pose on the podium with the sixth place trophy,” the NCAA rep told Gaines.
Gaines has said on a number of occasions that it wasn’t the trophy she cared about — rather, it was the fact that the NCAA had been willing to bend the knee for a photo opportunity.
WATCH: “Lady Ballers” on DailyWire+.
Michael “Tessa” Johnson and “Evelyn” Williamson
Not one, but two biological males took the top two spots on the podium at the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships on Sunday. “Thanks to @USAcycling, men are racing in women’s categories all over the US.”
“Mr. Birchum” voice talent Megyn Kelly responded to the news with just one word: “Infuriating.” Television host Piers Morgan weighed in as well, adding, “So outrageous. Why aren’t more women standing up against this assault on their rights?”
Men took the top two podium spots in the women's singlespeed category at the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships yesterday.
Tessa (Michael) Johnson took 🥇and "Evelyn" Williamson took 🥈
Thanks to @usacycling, men are racing in women's categories all over the US. pic.twitter.com/AQixz5xWx1
— 🚲 (@i_heart__bikes) December 4, 2023
Austin Killips
Trans-identifying male cyclist Austin Killips came out on top of the women’s division of New Mexico’s Tour of the Gila race in April of this year, beating his closest female competitor by a minute and a half.
“Austin Killips @AmyD_Foundation put an exclamation point on her overall race lead Sunday by winning Stage 5 Gila Monster and taking home the overall victory at Tour of the Gila,” the organization posted on X – but limited replies in an apparent effort to quash any criticisms.
Austin Killips @AmyD_Foundation put an exclamation point on her overall race lead Sunday by winning Stage 5 Gila Monster and taking home the overall victory at Tour of the Gila. #UCIWomen #TOTG2023https://t.co/exLh7kIIJI
— Tour of the Gila (@TouroftheGila) May 1, 2023
Lesley Mumford
Trans-identifying male cyclist Lesley Mumford was left to stand on the podium alone after winning the 100-mile CO2UT (Colorado to Utah) gravel race in May. The fastest of Mumford’s female competitors finished 17 minutes behind (Lindsey Kriete, 2nd Place) and over 30 minutes behind (Michelle Van Sickle), respectively.
“I have no idea why so many people bailed before the podiums, but they did. I swear I wasn’t the only one in my age group,” Mumford said of being left to stand alone when the awards were handed out.
Megyn Kelly torched Mumford, saying, “There’s a story every other day now about a trans person winning a women’s cycling event. Women’s cycling is all but gone to us — I mean it’s worse, I think, than women’s swimming … No wonder [female athletes] are quitting.
Valentina Petrillo
Trans-identifying runner Valentina Petrillo won bronze in the women’s 400-meter race at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. At 49-years-old, Petrillo was 18 years older than every other competitor in the race.
Petrillo responded to critics, saying, “Better to be a slow happy woman than a fast unhappy man. I don’t feel like I’m stealing anything from anyone.”
But Petrillo’s competitors disagree. Cristina Sanulli, who finished second to Petrillo in the 200m at the women’s indoor masters championships in March, said, “We do not feel equal because Petrillo’s physical structure is male. So we are not running at par. Although the personal path that Valentina has taken is respectable, athletically speaking it is not, and because of this we feel very discriminated against.”
Petrillo’s time would have earned him 14th place if he had raced other biological males.