Leading women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe caught the wrath of social media users on Tuesday for arguing that female athletes and their parents need to get over the advantages biologically male transgender athletes have over girls.
Rapinoe told Time magazine in an interview published Sunday that she is “100% supportive” of “trans inclusion” in female sports, dismissing concerns about fairness.
“I would also encourage everyone out there who is afraid someone’s going to have an unfair advantage over their kid to really take a step back and think what are we actually talking about here,” she said. “We’re talking about people’s lives. I’m sorry, your kid’s high school volleyball team just isn’t that important.”
Rapinoe was ripped over the tone-deaf commentary, as social media users were quick to point out that the athlete’s remarks come as Rapinoe is on her way to retirement.
Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro wrote, “Just a note: if biological males were allowed to play against the US Women’s National Soccer Team, Megan Rapinoe and crew would get their asses kicked by a bunch of junior high boys.”
Shapiro then linked to a 2017 story from CBS Sports about an under-15 boys academy team besting the U.S. Women’s National Team in a scrimmage.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 21, 2022
“I got mine. F*** them kids,” conservative writer Jim Treacher succinctly mocked Rapinoe.
Wasn't it Megan Rapinoe whose team got defeated by a bunch of High School boys?
— Taylor White (@taylurk) June 21, 2022
PR professional Vanessa Santos criticized, “Megan Rapinoe can safely say these things because she is near retirement and she isn’t in danger of being replaced by a transgender athlete. She’s doing nothing to preserve the future of female sports.”
“Megan Rapinoe is selfish,” Santos blasted.
Megan Rapinoe can safely say these things because she is near retirement and she isn’t in danger of being replaced by a transgender athlete. She’s doing nothing to preserve the future of female sports. Megan Rapinoe is selfish. https://t.co/3IqOXDwM75
— Vanessa Santos (@Vanessasantosxo) June 21, 2022
“Megan Rapinoe has 2 World Cup medals and an Olympic gold thanks to sex segregation in sport,” another Twitter user blasted the athlete. “Her team couldn’t beat 15 year old schoolboys. At a recent UK cycling race, trans and non binary males were allowed to race against ‘Cis women,’ men took 10 out of 12 podium places.”
“Here’s the thing: Megan Rapinoe is a liar,” conservative pundit Ian Haworth wrote. “She just thinks she’s safe. The moment a man takes her roster spot, she’ll be outraged — as she should.”
Here’s the thing: Megan Rapinoe is a liar.
She just thinks she’s safe. The moment a man takes her roster spot, she’ll be outraged – as she should. https://t.co/aDu3V47bCP
— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) June 20, 2022
“Yes, by all means, crush the dreams, spirits and dignity of children — as long as it provides ideological satisfaction to rich and famous adults,” former Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller said.
Yes, by all means, crush the dreams, spirits and dignity of children — as long as it provides ideological satisfaction to rich and famous adults.
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) June 21, 2022
“This is ridiculous,” former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) commented.
This is ridiculous. https://t.co/a4oIakDtsQ
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) June 21, 2022