UFC President Dana White is no stranger to controversy, but during his appearance on the Piers Morgan Show in September last year took things to a whole new level. The topic? Transgender athletes competing in combat sports. In a candid and unfiltered interview, White shared his thoughts on the matter, and the internet exploded.
The issue of trans athletes has been a hot-button topic in recent years. As more transgender individuals participate in sports, questions arise about fairness, safety, and competitive advantage, especially in the female categories. Some argue that trans athletes should be allowed to compete based on their gender identity, while others believe it creates an uneven playing field.
Dana White’s take on trans athletes
In the wake of the historic UFC-WWE merger that took place in September 2023, Dana White made a special appearance on The Piers Morgan Show. Among the discussions that ranged from professional to personal, the topic of transgender people in sports arrived. When asked about trans athletes, White didn’t hold back.
“I think you know exactly what I think of that. I think that, let me put it to you this way” White told Morgan, “I have a daughter, I don’t ever want to see a day where somebody who is a biological male is competing against my daughter. “
On the same notion, White went on to add about his daughter being a cheerleader and that he’s glad that cheerleading still doesn’t have the inclusion of transgenders, unlike competitive sports.
“No, I think it’s another nutty, insane thing that’s happening in the world today, that we are all trying to deal with,” he added, “I am just glad there’s no, my daughter is a cheerleader, so she’s not playing any competitive sports, but it hasn’t happened in the cheer world yet.” [H/T Daily Mail]
Check out the clip of Dana White’s words on trans athletes on The Piers Morgan Show, courtesy of Sky News Australia.
As expected, social media erupted as White’s words ignited a firestorm of debate. Supporters praised White for speaking his mind, while critics accused him of transphobia. Hashtags like#DanaWhiteDebate and #TransAthletesDebate trended worldwide.
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