Trans Athletes Clap Back at Elon Musk’s Boycott Call—Here’s the Tea

Elon Musk—yeah, that guy—totally lost it recently when he recommended a boycott of any sporting event that allows transgender athletes to compete in women’s categories. Cue major receipts: two trailblazers, Lia Thomas and Valentina Petrillo, didn’t just sip the tea—they threw it right back.

Musk Demands Boycotts—Then Gets Served

Sometime in March 2025, Musk took to social media (aka the world’s loudest soapbox) to rally followers to avoid competitions that include trans athletes in female categories. Think: a call to cancel games, skip events, and basically erase trans inclusion. Not exactly “Let‘s have a conversation,” more like “Burn it down, y’all.”

Lia Thomas Throws Shade, But Also Facts

Lia Thomas, US swimmer and the first openly trans athlete to win an NCAA Division I women’s title (hello, 2022 500-yard freestyle throwdown) , didn’t hold back. She publicly criticized Musk’s boycott push, framing it as a blatant attack not just on fairness—but on basic human dignity.

Thomas has lived the uphill battle: after her title win, she was banned by World Aquatics from women’s events, prompting her to take legal action. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ultimately backed the ban, effectively shutting her out from the Paris Olympic pool . She called the decision “deeply disappointing” and reiterated how blanket policies that exclude trans women hit at identity and opportunity .

Now, Musk wants to extend that erasure to entire events—even if other athletes (cis or trans) deserve to be there. Lia’s response? Something like: “Respect my existence unless you can do better than me in the pool.”

Valentina Petrillo: “You Don’t Know Me, But You’re Too Loud”

Based in Italy, Valentina Petrillo made waves at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, becoming the first openly trans runner to compete (T12 200m & 400m sprints). Critics like J.K. Rowling branded her an “out and proud cheat,” only to be squashed when Petrillo shot back:

“JK Rowling is only concerned about the fact that I use the female toilet, but she doesn’t know anything about me.” 

But that’s not all. Musk jumped into the harassment pile too—sharing anti-trans sentiment and amplifying rumors about another trans athlete, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. In response, Khelif filed a legal complaint, calling out Musk (and Rowling) for fueling a hate campaign .

Petrillo, meanwhile, focused on inclusivity, telling the Times and other outlets that inclusion isn’t just a buzzword—it’s survival. Her hormone‑therapy journey started in 2019 and included weight gain, sensitivity shifts, and identity discovery—making the bigots’ backlash look especially ignorant .

Musk vs. Trans Athletes: What’s the Real Story?

Let’s be real—for Musk, this is just another flex of influence. He’s taking cheap shots at marginalized groups from his billionaire platform. Meanwhile, Lia and Valentina—two people actively breaking barriers in sports—are being punched down.

One calls out systemic exclusion, the other embodies resilience and publicly dismantles hateful stereotypes with a single line. That’s next‑level.

So What’s This Really About?

This is more than a sports debate. It’s about who gets to belong, who’s erased, and who gets center stage. Musk’s boycott isn’t protecting fairness; it’s gaslighting inclusion. Meanwhile, Thomas and Petrillo’s resistance? That’s rewriting the score.

Lia Thomas: fought rules, lost legal case, but refuses to fade out .

Valentina Petrillo: made history, faced hate, and refused to back down .

Elon Musk: jumps to boycott. Loses in public debate. Gets called out by actual athletes.

TL;DR Hot Take:

Musk wants to nix competitions that include trans women competitors.

Lia Thomas responds with hard-won experience and authenticity.

Valentina Petrillo claps back with a mic-drop line—and heart.

This isn’t about sports integrity—it’s about whether we accept people or shut them out.