Swim Brand Drops 'Soul Surfer' Over Her Views On Trans Athletes… Here's Who They Promoted Instead

Surf lifestyle brand Rip Curl faced intense backlash for dropping Bethany Hamilton, a world-renowned female surfer, and featuring a biological male “transgender” surfer to promote women’s surfing. Last year, Hamilton made headlines when she came out against policies allowing biological male surfers who think they’re “trans women” to compete against biological women, as Townhall covered. In her statement, she threatened to boycott the World Surf League over the policies. Hamilton, who has surfed since she was 8, grew up in Hawaii and gained worldwide attention after she returned to her sport after losing her arm in a shark attack when she was 13 years old. The 2011 movie “Soul Surfer” is based on her life.

According to Daily Mail, Hamilton’s stance on transgender athletes caused Rip Curl to sever ties with her last year. And last week, Sasha Lowerson, 44, a “transgender” surfer, was featured on the company’s Instagram profile as part of the brand’s “Meet the Local Heroes of Western Australia” campaign. Several women’s sports advocates, including Riley Gaines, sounded off about the company’s decision to drop Hamilton and promote Lowerson.

• More at: Townhall - A Swim Brand Dropped ‘Soul Surfer’ Over Her Views on Trans Athletes. Here’s Who They Promoted Instead.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2024/01/29/rip-curl-drops-bethany-hamilton-signs-on-transgender-athlete-as-ambassador-n2634235
UK Daily Mail: Rip Curl faces backlash after using a transgender boarder Sasha Lowerson to promote women's surfing
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13003985/Rip-Curl-transgender-Sasha-Lowerson-Bethany-Hamilton.html