Podcast host Megyn Kelly has criticized soccer player Megan Rapinoe, claiming that the 38-year-old U.S. Women’s World Cup team substitute not only lacks her previous athletic prowess but also negatively influences the team with her politically charged remarks.
For those unfamiliar with women’s soccer, the U.S. Women’s World Cup team has been criticized for both their performance in this year’s World Cup and their conduct during the national anthem.
On Wednesday’s episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show”, Kelly expressed her dismay, “These individuals from the women’s soccer team keep making us look bad on an international level.”
The former Fox News anchor accused Rapinoe, an ardent Black Lives Matter supporter, of being the driving force behind the team’s divisive behavior. This includes her persuading her teammates to kneel during the national anthem at the height of the BLM protests, as corroborated by retired soccer star Hope Solo, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and former goalkeeper for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
“Megan Rapinoe is the instigator of all this,” said Kelly. “While she made the team, she is not a starter and thus isn’t on camera when the national anthem is played. But she’s responsible for a lot of what’s happening.
“She has turned the entire team against the country they represent. As for me, I cannot support this team. I hope they lose … It’s disgraceful. They should be ashamed.” Kelly voiced her displeasure with the defiant attitudes displayed by some of the women’s soccer players.
“Many won’t sing the national anthem or place their hands over their hearts,” she added. “Even those who do sing are doing so halfheartedly. They clearly seem reluctant to do so.
“It looks like they don’t even want to be there, as if representing the USA is a burden.” These players showing disregard for the national anthem is perceived as a display of contempt for the United States and its citizens.
What makes the situation worse is that poor attitudes aren’t the only issue – the team’s mediocre performance on the field also exacerbates their perceived petulance. Kelly went on to ridicule the team for celebrating a 0-0 draw against Portugal on Tuesday, barely avoiding an early exit from the tournament.
“They managed a 0-0 tie with Portugal,” she noted. “They’ve scored just four goals in three games. It’s the first time that the U.S. women’s team doesn’t have at least two wins at this stage of the competition. Yet, they’re celebrating as if they’ve won the tournament.”
Rapinoe has been criticized on Twitter for her strident left-wing activism, which some believe detracts from the enjoyment of the sport. Rapinoe is set to retire at the end of this season, and it remains to be seen if the standard of U.S. women’s soccer and the players’ attitudes will improve.
