Megyn Kelly insults the US women’s soccer team for stopping during the national anthem at the World Cup

Podcast host Megyn Kelly lashed out at the U.S. women’s soccer team on Monday for standing still and motionless as the national anthem was played before their World Cup opener.

Before beating Vietnam 3-0 on Friday, six of the 11 starting players opted not to put their hands on their hearts, instead keeping their arms beside or behind their backs.

Five others put their hands on their hearts, including three – Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher and Lindsey Horan – who also sang the words of the national anthem.

The Vietnamese women, on the other hand, were all seen singing their national anthem in full voices with their hands on their chests.

Kelly said the team’s actions showed the women “hated” their country.

“I do believe their version of what being a feminist is, what it means to be a powerful woman, at least as an American woman, is to hate your country. It means going on the national stage and embarrassing yourself and your country by not singing the national anthem,” Kelly began.

Some American players put their hands on their hearts as they sang the national anthem. Pictured from left, Julie Ertz, Naomi Girma and Alyssa Naeher

The Vietnam women’s team were all seen singing their national anthem with their hands on their chests

Megyn Kelly expressed her dismay at the actions of the US women’s soccer team, many of whom did not sing the national anthem for the opening game of the World Cup.

‘For some of them, who didn’t even put their hands over their hearts when the national anthem played, that was a bridge too far. They couldn’t be bothered to put their hand over their heart as the national anthem played, as they stood there representing you and me and the country and our military and people who gave their lives for the country they represent,” she continued.

Kelly placed much of the blame on two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe.

Kelly was furious that the women didn’t sing the national anthem or put their hands on their hearts

Rapinoe, the former team captain, has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights, equal pay, and the Black Lives Matter movement in recent years. She recently announced that she will be retiring after the 2023 tournament.

‘It was too much effort [for them] to put their hand on their heart, or God forbid, sing… And by the way, Megan Rapinoe too. She’s on the team. She announced her retirement… She said she’ll never stand for the national anthem again, this [team behavior] is clearly, I think, the result of her influence, and it is disgusting.’

Kelly continued to bash Rapinoe, who has played for the national team since 2006.

Her World Cup debut came during the 2011 World Cup tournament – where she scored a goal against Colombia and enjoyed the first of many memorable celebrations.

“What an incredible opportunity to stand out there, represent the United States of America in World Cup football, and you can’t be ashamed to feign at least a hint of patriotism… We are disgusting, I think, when it comes to human rights. This is what people like Rapinoe have said in the past. So we cannot be greeted in any way.

Kelly placed much of the blame on two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, Megan Rapinoe, pictured on Saturday

“This woman Megan Rapinoe has a problem,” Kelly said. Just last week she said, “What’s the matter with trans athletes playing against women? Where are all the trans athletes taking away women’s rights?”

“Obviously she’s a dork who doesn’t pay attention to the news. It would take you about two seconds of Googling to come up with a long list that I partially read to her when she made that nonsensical statement.”

Over the course of her career, Rapinoe has fully established herself, not only as a skilled player on the court, but also as an outspoken advocate off it.

She became the first white athlete to kneel for the national anthem, first in an early September 2016 game against the Chicago Red Stars in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Rapinoe is on the cover of Time magazine ahead of this summer’s Women’s World Cup

Rapinoe helped the United States to their fourth World Cup title in 2019

“It was a little nod to Kaepernick and everything he stands for now,” Rapinoe said after the game at the time. “I think it’s actually pretty disgusting how he was treated and the way a lot of the media reported on it and made it about something it’s definitely not.

As a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have all your freedoms protected. It was something small I could do and something I plan to continue doing in the future and hopefully start a meaningful conversation,” she said.

U.S. Soccer also suggested they resented her protest, saying “As part of the privilege of representing your country, we expect our players and coaches to honor our flag as the national anthem is played.”

Rapinoe went on to say that a rule American football had in place requiring its athletes to stand for the national anthem was made “without ever talking to me” and added that it would never sing the Star-Spangled Banner again.

Rapinoe is an outspoken LGBT activist who has been in the public eye since 2012

Rapinoe became the first white athlete to kneel for the national anthem, joining NFL’er Colin Kaepernick

Rapinoe celebrated her first goal at a World Cup in 2011, singing ‘Born in the USA’ into a microphone

In addition to her solidarity with Kaepernick, Rapinoe’s activism also extended to the LGBTQ+ community.

A lesbian herself, now married to UConn and WNBA women’s basketball legend Sue Bird, Rapinoe has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of those who identify as other than cisgender and heterosexual.

She has been out in public since 2012 and has advocated for the rights of anyone who includes themselves in that community.

But lately she’s been particularly vocal about the transgender community and their role in sports — particularly those who have transitioned from male to female.

While some in the sports world, including tennis icon and fellow lesbian Martina Navratilova, opposed the inclusion of MTF (male-to-female) individuals participating in women’s sports, Rapinoe was in favor of that inclusion.

With 22 states banning transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity, Rapinoe has turned its focus to that fight.

The lesbian activist and icon is about to put her career on the field behind after four World Cups

She recently told Time magazine that she would welcome a trans woman to the USWNT, saying that the argument that MTF people are taking the place of a “real” woman is transphobic.

“I see trans women as real women,” Rapinoe said. “What you’re automatically saying in the discussion — you kind of tell yourself already — is that you don’t believe these people are women. That’s why they take the other place. I don’t feel that way.

“We as a country are trying to empty away the entire humanity of people,” she said.

She specifically targeted those who claim to protect women’s sport.

“It’s especially frustrating when women’s sports are weaponized,” she continued. “Oh, now we care about fairness? Now do we care about women’s sports? Those are total bulls***. And show me all the trans people who take advantage of being trans in sports. It’s just not happening.’

Trans athletes aren’t necessarily a new phenomenon in America, but the success of Penn swimmer Lia Thomas has sparked a nationwide debate among athletes, fans, officials, and even politicians.