Megyn Kelly’s recent criticism of Megan Rapinoe’s retirement has ignited a media-focused controversy, shedding light on the intersection of sports, patriotism, and activism. Kelly, known for her outspoken views, took to her SiriusXM podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show, to voice her concerns about Rapinoe’s departure from the US national soccer team.
Kelly accused the retired soccer player of setting “a terrible example for our little girls.”
“Here’s Megan Rapinoe on her last middle finger to the United States, which made her rich, which gave her a college scholarship, which gave her $7 million a year, reportedly, in endorsements and fees for playing soccer for us on her swan song out the door,” Kelly said as she played a clip from Rapinoe’s last game.
According to The New York Post, during the podcast, Kelly played a clip from Rapinoe’s final game in which the athlete did not place her hand over her heart or sing along to the national anthem before a match against South Africa in Chicago.
Kelly’s criticism touched upon Rapinoe’s past activism, referencing her 2016 decision to kneel during “The Star-Spangled Banner” as a form of peaceful protest against social inequalities—a gesture that mirrored NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest against police violence targeting black communities.
“She sets a terrible example for our little girls,” Kelly said on her show. “All I can say is thank God those girls were looking forward and not looking back at Megan Rapinoe. Let’s hope it’s true metaphorically, in addition to being an actual physical reality, because she is no role model, good riddance.”
This ongoing media clash between Kelly and Rapinoe highlights the debate around athletes’ freedom of expression, responsibilities as public figures, and impact on young fans and society.
