American event management and ticketing company Eventbrite has removed an upcoming appearance by former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines from its website, it has confirmed.
Ms. Gaines, who has been outspoken against biological males participating in women’s sports, was set to speak at the University of California, Davis in November, the first of many public appearances the athlete will be making as part of her “Speak Louder Campus Tour.”
While the California speaking event still appears on Ms. Gaines’s website, it has been removed from Eventbrite because it allegedly violates the company’s “community guidelines and terms of service.”
The ticketing company notified Ms. Gaines in an email that she was prohibited from promoting her speech on its website.
Ms. Gaines shared a screenshot of the email on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Oct. 25.
I love all the people in my comments saying they've deleted their Eventbrite account. Give 'em the Bud Light treatment
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 26, 2023
🚨Newsflash: being a woman and advocating for such isn't a hate crime.🚨 pic.twitter.com/EQmh2JbcF1
“We have determined that your event is not permitted on the Eventbrite marketplace as it violates our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, with which all users agree to comply,” the email begins. “Specifically, we do not allow content or events that – through on- or off-platform activity – discriminate against, harass, disparage, threaten, incite violence against, or otherwise target individuals or groups based on their actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, or disability.”
“As a result, your event has been unpublished. Please be aware that severe or repeated violations of our guidelines may result in the suspension or termination of your Eventbrite account,” the email continued.
“We appreciate your understanding and thank you in advance for your cooperation,” the email concluded.
In a statement on X, Ms. Gaines called on her followers to give Eventbrite “the Bud Light treatment,” following its decision to remove her event, referencing the backlash over the beer-maker’s decision to partner with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney for a campaign earlier this year.
Advocating for Women ‘Isn’t a Hate Crime’
That decision sparked a boycott among Bud Light drinkers, and Anheuser-Busch, which also produces Budweiser, lost up to $6.5 billion in stock value within days.
“Newsflash: being a woman and advocating for such isn’t a hate crime,” Ms. Gaines wrote on X.
