The former US soccer star, 38, was the ‘Grand Marshall’ of the Pride Parade in Seattle on Sunday, and she sat atop a drop-top car alongside her fiancee, WNBA legend Sue Bird.
Midway through the parade, as crowds watched on from the roadside, Rapinoe was confronted by a reporter from the Post Millennial, who demanded answers over her views on trans athletes in women’s sport.
After approaching Rapinoe’s car, the reporter can be heard saying: ‘Your US Women’s Soccer team famously lost to high school boys… do you really think it’s fair for these same boys to be competing in girls’ sports?’
Midway through the question, Rapinoe is seen laughing at the reporter, before turning to her fiancee and muttering under her breath, ‘Oh my god’.
Megan Rapinoe is stunned after being asked about her controversial views on trans athletes
She was comforted by her wife, WNBA legend Sue Bird, after being confronted by a reporter
She then bends down to pick up her drink, before Bird – a Seattle Storm basketball legend – puts her arm around Rapinoe’s shoulder to comfort her.
Not content with the answer, the reporter – Katie Daviscourt – then continues to probe, while a security guard plants himself between her and Rapinoe’s car.
Despite being blocked, Daviscourt continues: ‘Do you think it’s fair? Why should trans people should compete against young girls? Do you think they’re gonna get hurt?’
Rapinoe’s car then drives off to continue the parade, and she can be seen applauding the crowds as she leaves the reporter in her wake.
On social media, fans immediately piled in to Rapinoe, with one calling her ‘gross’, while another added: ‘It is important to inform the public as to what kind of person Megan Rapinoe is.’
Elsewhere, another X user wrote: ‘This response speaks volumes.’
Rapinoe is now retired, but as a soccer player was once beaten by a team of 15-year-old boys
A security guard blocks a reporter trying to quiz Rapinoe on her controversial views
The soccer match referred to by the reporter took place in 2017, and saw Rapinoe captain a US Women’s National Team XI against a group of under-15 boys in Dallas.
The game was arranged to prepare the US team for an international fixture against Russia, but ultimately ended in embarrassment, with the children running out 5-2 winners.
In the years since, USWNT players have confirmed the game took place, with Carli Lloyd admitting: ‘Yes, it’s true… they were good!’
On a multitude of occasions, Rapinoe has spoken out in favor of trans athletes competing in sport – most notably in her own field of soccer – and she has received much backlash over the controversial opinion.
Recently, was branded ‘shameful’ by Piers Morgan for her involvement in a letter to NCAA urging them not to ban trans athletes competing in women’s sports.
Rapinoe, wife Sue Bird and an array of other stars such as WNBA players Brianna Turner and Layshia Clarendon joint-signed the letter, which says the biggest issues in women’s sports are ‘unequal pay, rampant sexual abuse and harassment of women and girl athletes, and a lack of equal resources for men’s and women’s teams.’
Rapinoe takes a knee prior to a game for the US Women’s National Team back in 2022
Piers Morgan led a recent backlash at Rapinoe, calling her ‘shameful’ for signing a letter
The letter adds: ‘By barring transgender athletes, you would be severely limiting the capacity of your member institutions to protect and support their athletes. Moreover, you would be actively disparaging transgender athletes – the same athletes you chose to protect when you agreed to serve on the Board of Governors.’
Morgan led the backlash in April, responding to news of the letter on X by writing: ‘Shameful to see women actively endorse unfairness and equality vs women.’
In July last year – before her retirement from soccer – she said she would welcome a trans player onto the national team.
‘Absolutely,’ she told Time. ‘You’re taking a “real” woman’s place, that’s the part of the argument that’s still extremely transphobic. I see trans women as real women. What you’re saying automatically in the argument—you’re sort of telling on yourself already—is you don’t believe these people are women. Therefore, they’re taking the other spot. I don’t feel that way.’
Rapinoe poses for a photo alongside fiancee Bird at a Tribeca Film Festival premiere this month
She has also angered former US President Donald Trump with her comments in the past
Rapinoe is an outspoken LBGTQ+ advocate who helped the US women’s players obtain a new labor deal with the USSF that effectively pays female athletes the same as their male counterparts.
‘We as a country are trying to legislate away people’s full humanity,’ she said.
She took specific aim at those who claim to be protecting women’s sports.
‘It’s particularly frustrating when women’s sports is weaponized,’ she continued. ‘Oh, now we care about fairness? Now we care about women’s sports? That’s total bulls***. And show me all the trans people who are nefariously taking advantage of being trans in sports. It’s just not happening.’
