Hugh Laurie entra em polêmica ao apoiar Sophie Cunningham contra atletas.

The exchange of messages between Hugh Laurie and comedian Graham Linehan gained attention after the actor publicly declared support for WNBA player Sophie Cunningham and denied the participation of biological men in women’s competitions.

Hugh Laurie declares position on trans athletes

In response to a post by Linehan on X, Laurie wrote: "Firstly, f--- off; secondly no, I don’t believe men should compete against women. I thought I’d made that pretty clear. If you’d looked. But obviously you must get onto your next…". In another message, he added: "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."

Graham Linehan’s reaction and message exchange

Linehan had called Laurie’s wording "cowardly" and asked him to declare direct support for Cunningham, to which Laurie responded forcefully. Later, Linehan apologized, describing his reaction as "knee-jerkiness" and acknowledging the influence of "A Bit Of Fry and Laurie" on his career.

Sophie Cunningham’s appeal and WNBA context

Sophie Cunningham, guard for the Indiana Fever, made headlines by stating she wants to "protect women’s sport" and that girls should not face biological men in locker rooms or competitions. In an interview with ESPN, the 29‑year‑old athlete explained that her stance stems from a feeling of "love with truth" and highlighted the importance of protecting young girls.

Repercussion on platforms and public opinions

The tweet thread quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and sparking debate among netizens. Some critics noted that Laurie positioned himself against trans athletes, while others praised his willingness to defend women’s sports. Commentators such as Tim Young observed that Laurie’s established career allows him to voice opinions without fearing cancellation, highlighting the rarity of Hollywood figures publicly addressing this issue.

With information from Fox News, PinkNews.