Hugh Laurie’s and Sophie Cunningham’s Stance on Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports

English actor and comedian Hugh Laurie expressed his views on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports through a social media post. Known for his role in the drama series “House,” Laurie clearly opposes men competing against women in sports. He responded decisively to writer and trans activist Graham Linehan by stating, “Firstly, f— off; secondly, no, I don’t believe men should compete against women.” This response followed a post by Linehan that has since been deleted.

Laurie’s comment gained attention when Linehan challenged him to show support for WNBA star Sophie Cunningham. Cunningham also voiced her opposition to men competing in women’s sports. Laurie affirmed his support for Cunningham, saying, “You started it. ‘Cowardly’ to ‘f— off’ is the going rate of exchange around here. And yes, I support Sophie Cunningham. And you, some of the time.” This exchange happened after Laurie’s appearance in the royal box during the 2026 Wimbledon Championships.

In July 2026, Cunningham faced criticism after an ESPN article quoted her. She expressed that women should not compete against biological men, clarifying that she was not expressing hate toward trans individuals. Cunningham stated, “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

As a member of the Indiana Fever, Cunningham highlighted her nuanced stance, saying, “I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”

Laurie and Cunningham’s opinions resonate with a significant portion of the American population. A New York Times poll in March 2025 indicated that 79% of Americans believe men should be prohibited from participating in women’s sports, reflecting the prevalent sentiment among Americans on this issue.