Tag: Watch What Happens Live

Television personality and Bravo producer Andy Cohen is calling out Meghan McCain, a former co-host of The View, for her recent social media post that shared anti-transgender sentiments. Cohen, who is openly gay, took to social media to express his disappointment, questioning McCain’s past support for the LGBTQ community.

The controversy erupted after McCain retweeted a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) about Payton McNabb, a 19-year-old conservative activist who has publicly spoken out against transgender participation in women’s sports. McNabb was invited by former President Donald Trump to be a special guest at his recent Joint Address to Congress.

In her post, McCain expressed her admiration for McNabb, writing, “I have had the pleasure of meeting Payton – she is incredibly smart, strong, and brave. Both she and her family have been through the unthinkable. Democrats defending young women suffering from traumatic brain injuries as a result of trans athletes is why they will continue losing every election.”

McCain’s tweet was in response to ongoing debates surrounding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, an issue that has become a political flashpoint in the U.S. However, the phrasing of her message appeared to suggest that Democrats were actively supporting policies that harm women athletes, a point that Cohen was quick to challenge.

Cohen, known for his outspoken commentary and for hosting Watch What Happens Live, responded to McCain’s tweet, expressing surprise over her stance. “Surprised you’re buying into the vilification of the trans community given the real problems happening in this country, your previous ally-ship of the LGBTQ community, and the fact that this non-issue affects about four people in this country,” Cohen wrote in his reply. His comment highlighted his belief that transgender inclusion in sports is being exaggerated in political discourse and that McCain’s position conflicted with her previously demonstrated support for LGBTQ rights.

McCain was not silent in her response, firing back with a tweet of her own. “Surprised you’re okay with violence against female athletes. Payton suffered serious brain damage—just one story,” McCain retorted. “You have my cell, always happy to talk privately or publicly on either of our shows because these conversations are reductive to hash out on social media.”

The exchange between the two public figures drew significant attention, as both have a large social media following and have been involved in public conversations about LGBTQ rights and women’s issues. McCain, who has become increasingly vocal on conservative issues since leaving The View, used the situation to defend her position on women’s sports and advocate for the rights of cisgender female athletes.

Payton McNabb, the activist at the center of the controversy, has been a paid spokesperson for the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), a conservative advocacy group that has been highly critical of transgender inclusion in women’s sports. McNabb has claimed that she suffered a traumatic brain injury during a volleyball match in 2022 in North Carolina, where a transgender athlete was allegedly playing on the opposing team. McNabb’s injury, she says, occurred when she was struck in the head with a volleyball during the match.

However, statistics suggest that the issue McNabb highlighted may not be as widespread as some argue. According to a report from 2021, over 214,000 female athletes aged 14 to 23 suffered injuries while playing volleyball between 2012 and 2021. Importantly, nearly all of these injuries occurred in games with no transgender athletes involved.

The issue of transgender athletes has become a central point in the broader culture wars, with politicians, activists, and sports organizations clashing over how to ensure fairness in competition. In February, former President Trump signed an executive order titled “No Men in Women’s Sports,” which sought to prevent transgender women from competing in women’s athletic events. The order also threatened to withdraw funding from educational institutions that allow transgender women to participate in women’s sports, citing concerns about the fairness of such participation.

Despite the political rhetoric surrounding the issue, experts have raised concerns about the potential harm caused by framing transgender athletes as a major threat to women’s sports. Many argue that the rhetoric fuels harmful stereotypes and distracts from more pressing issues, such as the systemic challenges faced by female athletes, including inadequate funding, unequal access to resources, and insufficient protection from abuse.

As the debate continues to unfold, McCain and Cohen’s exchange serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions within the LGBTQ community and among those who claim to be allies but may hold conflicting views. Cohen’s disappointment reflects a broader concern about how conservative politics is influencing perceptions of LGBTQ rights, particularly concerning transgender issues.

This heated online exchange highlights the polarized state of American politics, where issues related to gender, identity, and fairness in sports are increasingly becoming battlegrounds for larger ideological conflicts. Both sides of the debate are unlikely to back down anytime soon, leaving the conversation about transgender rights in sports poised to remain a highly contentious issue for the foreseeable future.