
via Imago
Credit: Imago

via Imago
Credit: Imago
In recent times, it hasn’t been looking good for Megan Rapinoe. Throughout her career, she always faced criticism for standing up for what she believed in. Several big names haven’t been too kind to her, especially after USWNT’s recent elimination from the World Cup. A renowned American historian deemed that Rapinoe was full of ‘ingratitude’ after she kept on criticizing her own country for years.
Apart from the criticism, the soccer veteran does receive a great deal of support too. A few days ago, Serena Williams‘ former coach backed the USWNT legend while firing back at all the haters.
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American historian doesn’t hold back while criticizing Megan Rapinoe
In the past, Rapinoe has had a tiff with several renowned personalities. After missing a crucial penalty kick in the World Cup, Donald Trump publicly lashed out and taunted the soccer veteran. That definitely wasn’t the end of the criticism. Renowned historian Victor Davis Hanson recently called Rapinoe ‘a narcissist’ on his podcast. He claimed that no other soccer player in America has been treated better than her.
He quoted, “She’s a creature of corporate America. She’s fabulously wealthy, that’s what she is”. He deemed her ‘full of ingratitude’ as she always ‘made fun, thrashed, and criticized her own country. Growing up in a middle-class family, opportunities always came her way due to her athletic ability. Hanson continued, “She was not shunned. She’s in America”.

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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – JULY 30: Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States speaks at a press conference on July 30, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. The next game of the USWNT in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is against Portugal on August 1st. (Photo by Robin Alam/USSF/Getty Images)
“She’s not in Iran, she’s not in Cuba, she’s not in China. So if a young woman wants to be openly gay, marry another woman, or live with another woman. Fine. That’s what we do in the West. She has no appreciation of that fact”. It has been quite a few days since Hanson dropped this podcast episode but the soccer legend still hasn’t addressed this yet.
Amidst the major public uproar against Rapinoe, she does receive a bit of support from time to time. Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs recently defended the soccer veteran and went after a hater.
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Williams’ former coach defended Rapinoe with an unexpected comparison
The fans were quite upset after USWNT’s sudden exit from the World Cup. On social media, a fan agreed that Rapinoe was great on the pitch but she constantly used ‘her spotlight’ to ‘shove her views and feelings’ on the fanbase. Rennae Stubbs was quick to fire back at that fan. She said, “Embarrassing take. Just embarrassing”.

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Megan Rapinoe of USA and OL Reign prior the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group E match between USA and Vietnam at Eden Park on July 22, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Stubbs continued, “Would you say that to Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe and so many others that stood for what they believed in!?”. Rapinoe seems to be staying low after the World Cup as she hasn’t responded to a lot of the criticism. Nonetheless, she did seemingly issue an indirect response to Trump’s public taunts at her after.
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What do you think about Hanson’s take on Megan Rapinoe? Let us know in the comments below.
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