WASHINGTON (TND) — Former NFL Pro Bowler Marcellus Wiley says he's speaking up for his daughters by speaking out against allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports.
In an Instagram video posted to the social media platform on Saturday, Wiley begins by claiming that while he doesn't have any issue with trans people in general, he is not okay with the idea of a person who was born biologically male competing against his daughters in sports.
I have no issue with transgenders. I do have an issue with athletes who are transgendered trying to participate going from a transition of a man to a woman and now playing with the women," Wiley says.And, I will say that. You all can try to Dave Chappelle me all you want. I am very clear on this. You can be a transgender. You can be the homie, but I’ll be damned if a male at birth turns into a female and tries to compete against my daughters," Wiley continues. "She ain’t out there. We out."Don’t make this a human rights issue – this is a biological issue. Simple as that. Trust me, I am a man," Wiley adds. "Like if I were me, Marcellus, and then tomorrow I’m Martha, I change up my gender, I’m now a woman, you know what I would try to do? Compete against the dudes. Why? Because that’s empowering."Wiley then provides an example of the "biological issue" he's talking about by comparing the 100-meter dash world records for men and women. The women's record is 10.49 seconds and set by American runner Florence "Flo-Jo" Delorez Griffith Joyner, Wiles says, but the men's record set by Jamaican runner Usain Bolt is almost a full second faster at 9.58.
Why use objective numbers? Because it’s pretty easy to digest. I hate saying fair. It’s not even right. Forget fair, it’s not right," Wiley says.Wiley is a former professional football player in the NFL, playing as a defensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers. Wiley's oldest daughter, Moroccca Wiley, was a collegiate track & field athlete who competed for UConn.
The former NFL star's comments come at a time when many critics have voiced opposition to trans inclusion in women's sports, mostly due to concerns over fairness. Those concerns were perhaps at a peak when one transgender athlete, University of Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas, repeatedly dominated in competitions and spurred controversy.
For example, Thomas is the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship.
Rules allowed Thomas, who was born male and transitioned a few years ago, to compete on the women's swimming team because she had received hormone replacement therapy. Thomas repeatedly dominated at college swim meets, winning championships in both the NCAA and Ivy League.
Many critics have labeled Thomas's success in women's swimming as invalid and unfair. Those critics range from her opponents, their parents, celebrities, publications and even Thomas's own teammates.
In the United States, some lawmakers are drafting legislation that would prohibit transgender athletes from participating in any women's sports. Some of those proposals are sitting in state legislatures, and some have been signed into law. Some of the passed "bans" even face continued legal pushback.
Wiley is apparently anticipating backlash for his comments, as his reference to comedian Dave Chappelle possibly indicates. Chappelle has been targeted by critics and advocates who claim his comedy is anti-LGBT or transphobic, hoping to "cancel" him.
However, Chapelle still routinely sells out venues for his comedy tours, so those "canceling" efforts have apparently failed to have a major impact on his career.
Following his decade-long career in the NFL. Wiley became a sportscaster who co-hosted ESPN's SportsNation and worked at ESPN until about 2018. Wiley was then a sportscaster for Fox Sports 1 until about 2022, but still reportedly works at FS1 under another role.
Now, Wiley hosts a podcast called "More To It" and is reportedly hoping to start a new show on Fox in the near future.
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