Legendary surfer, Bethany Hamilton, was dropped by the famous surf brand Rip Curl last year after she voiced her concerns about the inclusion of transgender, biological males, in women’s sports.
In what appears to be a retaliation to her stance, Rip Curl has hired a trans identified biological male, Sasha Lowerson, to promote women’s surfing.
Fox News has the details:
Surfing star Bethany Hamilton doubled down on her assertions that trans inclusion in women’s sports should be barred amid controversy over Rip Curl’s new ambassador.
The surfing brand was criticized for using transgender surfer Sasha Lowerson in a promotion last week.
“Male-bodied athletes should not be competing in female sports. Period,” Hamilton wrote on X.
Hamilton made her stance on trans inclusion in women’s sports clear last year after she spoke out against the World Surf League’s (WSL) rules governing transgender women competing in its events.
Hamilton said in a video posted to her Instagram that she would not be participating in WSL events if the rule remains.
You mean to tell me @ripcurl dropped Bethany Hamilton for opposing men surfing in the women’s league then picked up male surfer who surfs in the women’s league as a women’s ambassador?
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) January 25, 2024
Crazzzzyyy 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/GMvM5qfP0q
Not surprisingly, many are calling for a boycott of Rip Curl. For those interested in boycotting the brand, Rip Curl is now owned by New Zealand brand Kathmandu Outdoor.
Bethany Hamilton, who spoke out against transgender women competing in women's tournaments parted ways with Rip Curl, allegedly due to her stance has now been replaced by transgender Sasha as the new ambassador for woman's surf wear.#BoycottRipcurl #GoWokeGoBroke #BecFreedom pic.twitter.com/NBhNpe3nXy
— Bec Freedom (@Becstar89) January 29, 2024
Dear Bethany Hamilton please make your own surf wear line. We will switch to your brand fuck ripcurl! https://t.co/jT0h3Qxdye pic.twitter.com/05oZojvJPq
— Trinity (@Trinityitis) January 28, 2024
What a stunningly bad decision by #RipCurl 💩
— Lee (@ozmerica) January 28, 2024
We all love #BethanyHamilton 🏄♀️ 😍 & we all agree with her!!#RIPRipCurl#BoycottRipCurl https://t.co/KK5uhzI8d6 pic.twitter.com/RTJC4RT1fL
This is still on Instagram- Ripcurl women.
— Kirralie Smith (@KirralieS) January 29, 2024
He is a man! Stop displaying your utter contempt towards women!#boycottripcurl pic.twitter.com/nV42rzF4W0
Imagine, dropping a phenomenal professional surfer, who survived a shark biting her arm off, only to replace her with a man who pretends to be a woman. 🤦♀️Guess what my followers and I will be doing? We will all #BoycottRipCurl
— Erin Elizabeth Health Nut News 🙌 (@unhealthytruth) January 27, 2024
Will you? pic.twitter.com/l0hVB0mts1
Bethany doubled-down on her stance in a recent X post:
Male-bodied athletes should not be competing in female sports. Period.
— Bethany Hamilton (@bethanyhamilton) January 29, 2024
