Charles Barkley gives heated response in 'stupid' debate about transgender athletes
Charles Barkley is a man who never shies away from controversial topics, no matter which side he lands on.
Article content
Article content
On Thursday, he weighed in on the hot-button topic of transgender athletes in sports, an issue that has caused heated debate over the past few years.
Article content
The basketball legend, who currently serves an NBA analyst, was very blunt with his take during an appearance on Meet Pat Spencer, the NBA's most unlikely player who went from lacrosse legend to the Leagueance on Outkick's Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich. Barkley called those who support transgender athletes being able to compete in women's sports 'stupid.'
Article content
'I'm gonna make this very simple for you, Dan: Men should not play sports against women,' Barkley said. 'I'm not gonna get into all the bulls*** that's going on out here in the world today.
Article content
CHARLES BARKLEY: 'I do not under any circumstances, zero, think that men should play sports against women.'
'I'm done. I don't wanna hear you try to explain it to me.'
COMMON SENSE IS MAKING A COMEBACK🔥👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/JpBiQ9qXs1
— TONY™ (@TONYxTWO) May 9, 2025
Article content
Barkley reiterated his support for the LGBTQ community, but said he won't back down in his stance regarding trans athletes' inclusion in competitive sports.
Article content
'I support the gay community 100%. I support the transgender community 100%. But I do not, under any circumstances — zero — think that men should play sports against women,' he said.
Article content
Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning biological males from women's sports, threatening schools to either comply or face the loss of federal funds.
Article content
A day later, the NCAA changed its eligibility policies for transgender competitors.
Article content
Barkley, an NBA hall of famer, said that no amount of public pressure would get him to change his stance on the subject.
Article content
'If anybody has a problem with that, they're gonna have to get over it because I'm not gonna change my (mind). I just think it's wrong, period,' he said.
Article content
'If people disagree with me, I'm good with that. Hey, we disagree, I'm not mad at you, I don't hate you, I'm not going to call you names because that's just silly and stupid.
Article content
'I'm never going to think it's alright for men to play sports against women.'
Article content
While the outspoken star has shared controversial opinions in the past, he didn't feel like this was one of them.
Article content
Article content
'I don't even think that's controversial,' he added. 'When you see these debates on TV … I'm done, I don't wanna hear you try to explain it to me. No, no, no, I don't wanna hear it. I'm not gonna argue with you. Men shouldn't play sports against women. I'm done.'
Article content
Dakich had broached the subject with Barkley by asking the 11-time all-star about unfounded reports that Nike had funded a study on transgender children in sports that looked at the effects of hormone therapy and puberty blockers on 'trans adolescents.'
Article content
Barkley said he was unaware of the reports but then said that he felt children should not be exposed to the life-altering drugs.
Article content
'I don't even think anybody knows who they are as a young kid. So, I think we have to be very careful because you don't want to put kids in a disadvantageous situation, because, hey, when you get older, you can make your own decision,' he said. 'I think we have to be very careful screwing around with kids because they're not fully developed as a person.'
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Blue Jays continue to roll, rallying to topple the Twins in series opener
The red-hot Blue Jays show no signs of cooling down. Article content Following a 6-1 homestand, the Jays took their act on the road and continued their recent surge with a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis. Article content Article content In a potential wild-card playoff preview, the Jays came back to topple the Twins, 6-4, at Target Field in Minneapolis. Article content Since being swept in Tampa late last month, losing 13-0 in the series finale, the Jays have gone 9-2 in their past 11 games and remain tied for second place in the AL East with the Devil Rays. Article content Article content The team is playing its best baseball of the season, despite missing two big bats, while managing a pitching staff dealing with issues to its starting rotation. Article content The following are three takeaways on a night when George Springer took the club lead in home runs with nine, when he went deep for a solo shot in the sixth inning and both teams emerged from the game with 34-29 records. Article content 1. Bam bam Barger Article content Whenever Anthony Santander returns to the lineup, under no circumstances should Addison Barger move down in the order. Article content Hitting third has suited Barger, who deserve credit for taking advantage of the opportunity with Santander injured. Article content He's reached this stage where every plate appearance is a must-see, each swing, even when he's chasing, is liable to leave the yard. Article content He came close in his first at-bat against Twins starter Bailey Ober and then, with the Jays down 3-0, crushed a two-run no-doubter for his seventh homer of the season. Article content During the team's recent homestand, Barger launched a home run in four straight games. Article content When Santander does return from his shoulder injury, the Jays' lineup should be even deeper considering Daulton Varsho (hamstring) will also be back at some point. Article content The surprise bat, however, has belonged to Barger, who has emerged as a legitimate power presence. Article content The elephant in the Jays' room continues to be Andres Gimenez, whether he likes it or not. Article content It's not his fault the Cleveland Guardians gave him seven-year contract extension worth $106.5 million US two years ago. It's not his fault the Blue Jays acquired his services this past off-season in a trade. Article content The problem has been his bat. And despite his prowess with the glove at second base, his offensive contributions — aside from those three home runs in his first five games for Toronto — have been minimal.
National Post
5 hours ago
- National Post
Canada defeats U.S. to advance to CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship final
ALAJUELA — Lea Larouche's 56th-minute goal lifted Canada to a 1-0 victory over the seven-time champion United States in semifinal play Friday at the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship. Article content It was just the Americans' fourth loss in 66 games at the CONCACAF tournament (57-4-5). And it marks the first time in tournament history that the U.S. will not be part of the championship game. Article content Canada will face defending champion Mexico in Sunday's championship game at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. Mexico, which defeated Canada 4-2 in earlier Group B play, blanked Costa Rica 4-0 in the other semifinal. All four teams had already accomplished their goal of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland by reaching the semifinals. Article content Canada's goal came after Teegan Melenhorst's attempted chip deflected off one American defender past another to Larouche, who slid a shot under goalkeeper Caroline Birkel. Article content Canada was awarded a penalty in the 67th minute after Annabelle Chukwu was taken down in the U.S. penalty box. But the call was negated by offside after video review. Three minutes later, U.S. substitute Mary Long hit the Canadian crossbar with a shot. Article content Canadian goalkeeper Noelle Henning made a diving save in stoppage time to preserve the win. Article content The U.S. outshot Canada 12-9 (5-2 in shots on target) and had 64.6 percent possession. Article content Canada returns to the final for the first time since 2015, when it lost 1-0 to the U.S. It marks Mexico's fourth consecutive final, having won two of the previous three (2018 and 2023). Article content Article content Canada won the CONCACAF tournament in 2004 and 2008. Article content Canada has taken part in nine of the previous 11 editions of the FIFA U-20 tournament, missing out in 2010 and 2018. The Canadians lost 2-1 to Spain in the round of 16 at last year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. Article content Canada booked its ticket to the CONCACAF tournament by winning its qualifying group with ease in February. The Canadians outscored their qualifying opposition 43-0, dispatching Dominica 22-0, Bermuda 9-0 and host Trinidad and Tobago 12-0.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
NBA's talks about new league in Europe are continuing, though the process remains in early stages
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The NBA's talks with FIBA and other entities about the process of adding a new league in Europe are continuing, Commissioner Adam Silver said, though he noted that it may take at least a couple more years to turn the ideas into reality. Silver spoke at a league event to unveil a refurbished Boys & Girls Club in Oklahoma City on Friday — an off day for the NBA Finals — and said it's difficult to put a specific timeline on the Europe plans. 'I will say it's measured in years, not months,' Silver said. 'So, we're at least a couple years away from launching. It would be an enormous undertaking. And while we want to move forward at a deliberate pace, we also want to make sure that we're consulting with all the appropriate stakeholders, meaning the existing league, its teams, European players, media companies, marketing partners. There's a lot of work to be done.' Silver and FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis announced in March that the league and the game's governing body are finally taking long-awaited steps to form a new league, with an initial target of 16 teams. It had been talked about for years, and decades even on some levels. And since the NBA and FIBA went public with their idea to move forward, talks have gotten more constructive, Silver said. Silver said the NBA has been talking directly with the EuroLeague and with some member clubs about a partnership. It's his preference that the NBA work with the existing league on some level, though it's still too early to say exactly what that means. 'Either way, we continue to feel there are an enormous number of underserved basketball fans in Europe and that there's a strong opportunity to have another league styled after the NBA,' Silver said. About one in every six current NBA players hails from Europe, including Denver's Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) — who have combined for five of the last seven MVP awards — along with the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic (Slovenia) and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama (France). The NBA's board of governors will talk more about next steps with the European plans in July at their scheduled meeting in Las Vegas, Silver said. It's possible that the European venture could be unveiled in some way — or possibly start — around the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, just given how much attention will be on international basketball at that time. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'That might be a good launching pad for an announcement around a new competition,' Silver said. Some of the cities that are expected to have interest in being part of the new venture include London, Manchester, Rome and Munich. There will be others, of course. 'We haven't had direct conversations yet,' Silver said. 'But there have been several organizations that have come forward and said they would be interested and potential owners in operating in those major markets in Europe.' ___ AP NBA:
