Celebrities Who Don’t Support Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports

The intersection of gender identity and athletic competition has become one of the most polarized topics in modern culture. Governing bodies across the world are currently struggling to balance inclusivity with the preservation of fair competition in female categories. This debate has expanded far beyond the realm of sports administration and into the sphere of public celebrity opinion. Many high-profile figures from Hollywood, professional sports, and the music industry have used their platforms to voice concerns about biological males competing against biological females. The following individuals have publicly stated their opposition to transgender athletes participating in women’s sports.

Martina Navratilova

This tennis legend is widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. She has been an outspoken advocate for gay rights for decades but draws a strict line at transgender inclusion in female athletics. Navratilova wrote an op-ed for ‘The Sunday Times’ where she described the practice of allowing biological males to compete against women as insane and cheating. She argues that physical advantages acquired during male puberty cannot be fully mitigated by hormone therapy. Her stance has led to conflicts with various LGBTQ advocacy groups who previously celebrated her activism.

Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics before publicly transitioning decades later. She has consistently stated that biological boys should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Jenner emphasizes that her position is based on fairness and biological reality rather than bigotry. She often cites her own experience as a world-class athlete to highlight the physiological differences between the sexes. Jenner continues to advocate for the integrity of female-protected categories in her media appearances.

Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer known for surviving a shark attack and returning to elite competition. She announced in a video that she would boycott World Surf League events if the organization proceeded with new rules allowing transgender women to compete. Hamilton questioned whether hormone levels were an accurate measure of fairness and suggested a separate division for trans athletes. She emphasized that her concern lies with the future of female surfing and the opportunities available to young girls. Her stance received support from other surfers who were hesitant to speak out.

Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson is a legendary athlete who achieved All-Star status in both the NFL and MLB. He addressed the topic during an interview where he stated that he would not allow his daughter to compete if a biological male was in the lane next to her. Jackson characterized the inclusion of trans women in female sports as wrong and unfair to biological women. He expressed confusion regarding the societal shift that allows for such competition to take place. His comments reflect a protective stance toward female relatives and the integrity of their competitions.

Brett Favre

Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback who played twenty seasons in the NFL. He publicly criticized the inclusion of transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard in the Tokyo Olympics. Favre stated that a biological male competing as a female creates an unfair competitive environment. He argued that while people should be free to live as they choose, sports must recognize biological differences. His comments align with his broader conservative views on social issues affecting athletics.

Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan is the host of the most popular podcast in the world and a longtime commentator for the UFC. He frequently discusses the physiological differences between men and women in the context of combat sports and athletics. Rogan has hosted multiple guests to discuss bone density and muscle mass advantages that persist after transition. He vehemently opposes biological males fighting biological females in mixed martial arts. Rogan uses his platform to highlight cases where he believes safety and fairness are being compromised.

Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle is a stand-up comedian known for his provocative social commentary. In his special ‘The Closer’ (2021), he declared that gender is a fact and expressed agreement with J.K. Rowling’s views. While his comedy covers a broad range of transgender issues, he has specifically joked about the physical disparities in sports. Chappelle argues that ignoring biological reality leads to absurd outcomes in competitive environments. His sets often defend the perspective that women have a unique biological experience that should be recognized.

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais is a British comedian and creator of ‘The Office’ who frequently targets social taboos. In his stand-up special ‘SuperNature’ (2022), he included an extended segment mocking the idea of trans women in female sports. Gervais used satire to highlight what he views as the absurdity of biological males claiming to have no advantage. He explicitly joked about the physical differences and the impact on female competitors. His material defends the “old-fashioned” women who feel displaced by new gender ideologies.

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling is the author of the ‘Harry Potter’ series and a prominent voice in the gender critical movement. She has publicly supported Sharron Davies and other activists fighting to keep women’s sports for biological females. Rowling funds services for women and argues that eroding the definition of biological sex harms women’s rights. She frequently uses social media to highlight instances where she believes female athletes have been disadvantaged. Her stance has made her a central figure in the global debate over sex and gender.

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is a rock and roll pioneer known for his theatrical stage shows. In an interview with Stereogum, he dismissed the current discourse on gender identity as a fad and expressed concern for women’s safety and fairness. Cooper specifically mentioned the absurdity of a six-foot-four biological male competing against women. He argued that allowing such competition destroys the purpose of having separate categories. His comments reflect a skepticism toward modern fluid definitions of gender in the context of biological reality.

Piers Morgan

Piers Morgan is a broadcaster and journalist who hosts ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’. He is a relentless critic of policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. Morgan frequently debates this topic on his show and challenges guests who deny biological advantages. He argues that the drive for inclusivity has destroyed fairness for women born female. Morgan positions himself as a defender of women’s rights in the face of what he calls woke ideology.

Megyn Kelly

Megyn Kelly is a journalist and host of ‘The Megyn Kelly Show’ on SiriusXM. She has made the preservation of women’s sports a central theme of her independent media career. Kelly regularly interviews female athletes who have lost titles or opportunities to transgender competitors. She uses her legal background to dissect the policies of organizations like the NCAA and the IOC. Kelly is one of the most vocal American media figures opposing the inclusion of biological males in female categories.

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is a former professional cyclist and seven-time Tour de France winner. He questioned the fairness of transgender athletes in women’s sports during a conversation with Caitlyn Jenner on his podcast. Armstrong asked whether it is fair to have biological males competing in a category designed for females. He expressed a desire to have a nuanced conversation but leaned toward protecting the female category. He faced criticism for engaging in the debate given his own history with unfair advantages in sports.

Daley Thompson

Daley Thompson is a British decathlon legend who won gold medals at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics. He has publicly supported the views of Sharron Davies and others calling for the protection of women’s sport. Thompson believes that biological sex is the only fair way to categorize athletic competition. He has signed letters urging governing bodies to rethink their inclusion policies. Thompson argues that the current trajectory threatens the existence of elite women’s sport.

Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Coe is the President of World Athletics and a former Olympic gold medalist. Under his leadership, World Athletics banned transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in the female category at international events. Coe stated that the decision was taken to protect the future of the female category. He emphasized that fairness is the primary concern for the governing body of athletics. Coe’s decisive action has been praised by those advocating for biological categories.

Judy Murray

Judy Murray is a prominent tennis coach and the mother of champions Andy and Jamie Murray. She publicly supported Martina Navratilova’s stance on protecting the female category in sports. Murray has used her social media to amplify voices that call for biological boundaries in competition. She expresses concern about the grassroots level of sport and the discouragement of young girls. Murray believes that sports must remain fair to be meaningful for female participants.

Jorge Masvidal

Jorge Masvidal is a professional mixed martial artist known for his time in the UFC. He has strongly criticized the idea of biological males fighting women in combat sports. Masvidal views the physical disparity as a safety issue that could lead to severe injury. He has used his interviews to mock the logic of allowing such fights to occur. Masvidal is known for his unfiltered opinions and rejects the push for trans inclusion in fighting.

Jake Shields

Jake Shields is a former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and UFC contender. He is extremely active on social media in his opposition to transgender ideology in sports and society. Shields challenges the safety and fairness of trans women competing in combat sports. He frequently engages in debates and offers to fight transgender athletes to prove the biological difference. His rhetoric is often confrontational and uncompromising regarding biological sex.

Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker is a legendary college football player and former NFL running back. During his political campaign for the U.S. Senate, he made the protection of women’s sports a key platform issue. Walker frequently spoke about the unfairness of biological males competing against females. He argued that the political left is trying to destroy the integrity of women’s athletics. Walker’s stance resonated with his conservative base during his run for office.

Kevin Sorbo

Kevin Sorbo is an actor best known for playing Hercules in the hit 1990s television series. He is a vocal conservative who frequently posts about the absurdity of men competing in women’s sports. Sorbo argues that the inclusion of trans athletes is the death of women’s sports. He uses humor and sarcasm on social media to highlight what he sees as a departure from common sense. Sorbo supports boycotts and legal actions to preserve biological categories.

Dean Cain

Dean Cain is an actor famously known for portraying Superman in ‘Lois & Clark’. He frequently appears on news programs to discuss culture war issues, including sports. Cain argues that it is logically impossible to have fair competition between biological males and females. He supports the exclusion of trans women from female categories to ensure fairness. Cain believes that inclusion should not come at the expense of biological women’s achievements.

Rob Schneider

Rob Schneider is a comedian and actor known for his years on ‘Saturday Night Live’. He has become an outspoken critic of transgender athletes competing against women. Schneider uses his social media to post support for female athletes who speak out. He frames the issue as a matter of protecting women and girls from unfair displacement. Schneider’s political shift has made him a prominent voice in Hollywood opposition to these policies.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

Tanni Grey-Thompson is one of the most successful Paralympic athletes in British history. She has expressed concern that women’s sports will disappear if biological sex is not protected. Grey-Thompson argues that the physical advantages of male puberty are retained and create an unlevel playing field. She has called for an open debate without the fear of being canceled. Her expertise in sports administration gives weight to her concerns about categorization.

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard is a former Congresswoman and presidential candidate. During her time in office, she introduced the “Protect Women’s Sports Act” to clarify Title IX protections based on biological sex. Gabbard argues that denying biological differences is anti-science and harmful to women. She has continued to advocate for this issue in her media career after leaving the Democratic party. Gabbard views the protection of female athletics as a fundamental civil rights issue.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk is the owner of X (formerly Twitter) and the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. He has frequently engaged with content criticizing the inclusion of trans women in female sports. Musk has stated that he believes in protecting the competitive category for biological women. He often replies to videos of athletic disparities with comments supporting the exclusion of biological males. His ownership of X has amplified the voices of those opposing gender ideology in sports.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the former President of the United States and a highly influential figure in culture and politics. He regularly brings up the topic of transgender athletes in women’s sports during his rallies. Trump mimics weightlifters and swimmers to mock the inclusion of biological males in female competitions. He has promised to sign executive orders banning such participation if he returns to office. His rhetoric frames the issue as a matter of common sense and protecting women.

Please share your thoughts on this list and the topic of fairness in sports in the comments.