NRL and All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams called ‘transphobic’ over controversial comment

Retired footy legend and boxer Sonny Bill Williams has ignited a storm of controversy on social media and been labelled ‘transphobic’ for sharing a comment from a woman who ‘thanked God’ her parents wouldn’t let her get a sex change when she was 12.

The 37-year-old, who has been one of the best athletes of his generation across sterling careers in rugby league, union and boxing, took to Twitter on Monday to share a tweet from well-known anti-transgender and anti-vaccination advocate, Doctor Anastasia Maria Loupis.

The Danish doctor’s social media feed is littered with comments about stamping out gay and transgender rights, anti-vaccination sentiments and Donald Trump fan fiction. 

Williams re-tweeted a post from the controversial Doctor with more than 154k followers that quickly gained traction on social media, and saw many taking aim at the global superstar for what they saw as his ‘transphobic’ views.   

Footy legend Sonny Bill Williams has sent social media into a tailspin over comments labelled as ‘transphobic’ by some and ‘100 per cent right’ by others

‘From ages 4-12 I wore boys clothes, played boy sports and rejected all thing ‘girly’., When my brother teased me for being a girl, I even said that when I got older I would ‘cut my boobs off’. I was not transgender, I just idolised my brother. Thank God my parents were sane,’ the tweet says.

Seen alongside the words were a picture of a young red-headed girl padded up as an American Football player, side-by-side of a glamorous shot of a red-headed woman on a boat holding a beverage.

It is not known who the woman is, but the fact remains the Williams and Dr Loupis clearly believe in the sentiments behind them. 

The two-time Rugby World Cup winner, NRL premiership hero with the Bulldogs and Roosters and champion boxer has more than 936,000 Twitter followers, who were divided over the controversial view – though the vast majority were ‘disappointed’ and ‘angry’ with his backing of the controversial comments.

Self-professed ‘butch lesbian’ journalist Alice Soper condemned the remarks, and Williams’ support of them, countering that ‘you are who you are, and the world is better for it’. 

Williams has been married to wife Alana Raffie for almost nine years, though in his autobiography You Can’t Stop The Sun From Shining he made the startling revelation that they weren’t in love when they tied the knot in 2014.

The pair have four children: Iman, Aisha, Zaid and Essa, and since retiring from professional boxing, the former footy legend has been very vocal on social media across a variety of issues.  

More to come…