ESPN broadcaster Sam Ponder says it’s ‘not hateful to demand fairness in sports for girls’ as she slams trans competitors for competing against biological women – and critics attack her for being a ‘bigot’
- Sam Ponder, 37, received a mixture of feedback after defending young women who felt they were unfairly removed from their sport’s rosters
ESPN broadcaster Sam Ponder caused a stir after saying it’s ‘not hateful to demand fairness in sports for girls’ amid the trans athlete debate.
The American sports commentator, 37, received a mixture of feedback after defending young women who felt they were unfairly removed from their sport’s rosters to be replaced by trans women.
Sam Ponder wrote on Twitter: ‘I barely said anything publicly abt this issue & I’ve had so many ppl msg me, stop me in the street to say thank you+ tell me stories abt girls who are afraid to speak up for fear of lost employment/being called hateful [sic].
‘It is not hateful to demand fairness in sports for girls.’
She was referring to comments made by Riley Gaines, who was sharing messages sent to her by young sportswomen who were feeling threatened that their spots in lineups were being taken by trans women – leaving them feeling helpless.
Former college swimmer Gaines called it ‘discrimination against women and bullying at its finest.’
Ponder supported the message, saying that what they are demanding is fairness and should not be called ‘hateful’ for it.
Sam Ponder received a mixture of feedback after defending young women who felt they were unfairly removed from their sport’s rosters to be replaced by trans women
USA Today’s Nancy Armour slammed Ponder, writing: ‘Don’t be fooled by the people who screech about “fairness” to cloak their bigotry toward transgender girls and women, the transgender girls and women who have the audacity to want to play sports, in particular’
But she was slammed for the opinion, as people called Ponder a transphobe for sharing her belief.
One person said: ‘Uh oh, Sam. Be prepared to get called into the boss’s office for this.’ Another added: ‘So you’re a transphobe, cool. Another one showing their true colors.’
USA Today’s Nancy Armour also wrote in a comment piece about Ponder: ‘Don’t be fooled by the people who screech about “fairness” to cloak their bigotry toward transgender girls and women, the transgender girls and women who have the audacity to want to play sports, in particular.’
‘Her public concern about “fairness” for female athletes starts and stops with the miniscule number of transgender women who are participating in sports.
‘If Ponder truly wanted to champion women’s sports, she’s had ample opportunity. But she hasn’t. Because this has nothing to do with “fairness.”‘
Others, however, were on Ponder’s side.
One person said: ‘You earned my follow. Thank you for being courageous enough to speak up.’
Another added: ‘Thank you for speaking in support of girls sports for girls. It is totally unfair for a biological boy or man to compete against biological girls and women.’
Arnolt announced earlier this week that she was leaving the Worldwide Leader for OutKick, and spoke to Fox News about her problems with her previous company – where she felt ‘stifled’ and ‘uncomfortable’ due to the company’s culture.
Trans women participating in sports benefit from a whole host of physiological advantages, which are largely due to testosterone exposure early in life
‘ESPN has been very adamant about keeping politics out of their programming, yet you just saw, late last month, they did a whole tribute, during Women’s Month, for Lia Thomas,’ Arnolt said, via the NY Post.
‘Therefore, it doesn’t exactly seem like they are keeping politics completely out of the mix. But, I have to commend [Sage Steele and Sam Ponder] for standing up for these women who are unfortunately losing so much of the success that they worked so hard for.
‘I think there’s a lot of women who are uncomfortable about standing up for women’s rights because they don’t want to be considered politically incorrect, because it’s really crazy where this world and this conversation has gone,’ Arnolt said later on.
Thomas has sparked controversy in the college sports world after becoming the first transgender athlete to win a Division 1 national title, in women’s swimming. Thomas previously competed in the men’s division at the University of Pennsylvania before transitioning.
At the time, Ponder also gave her opinion: ‘This would take away so many opportunities for biological women and girls in sports. It is a shame that we are needing to fight for the integrity of Title IX in 2023 and the reason it was needed in the first place.’
