Seeing your life partner in a potentially life-threatening situation can never be easy. But when circumstances arise because of their passion, the emotional upheaval can become even worse. However, as Australian surfing icon Tyler Wright’s 2025 schedule comes to the fore, her wife Lilli cannot help but feel squeamish in her stomach about what it can bode for the former.

The World Surf League (WSL) recently unveiled its tour dates for the next year. While Wright has been a regular customer in the competition for years, Lilli cannot be excited about the next edition of the tournament. Her primary concern is how things might turn out for Tyler at one particular venue in the 2025 WSL tournament.

Tyler Wright’s wife can’t outrun the panicky feeling

On October 14, Lilli Wright took to Instagram to express her concern after seeing Abu Dhabi as a location for next year’s surfing tournament hosted by the WSL. “2 days ago @wsl released their 2025 tour schedule. Unfortunately homosexuality is illegal at one of the locations and my wife can legally be sentenced to death or imprisonment if she tries to attend,” Wright’s post elaborates, and it can be easily comprehended why she has a bad feeling about this. The capital of the United Arab Emirates will be the second stop of the 2025 Championship Tour, and Tyler Wright’s wife has her breath clenched for understandable reasons.

Lilli went on to fume about how her partner is still not considered highly by the WSL despite winning the championship twice. “Even after winning 2 world titles she is still not valued enough by the WSL to be considered when they sold this event,” she vented. “WSL have the duty of care to their athletes to not put them in potentially life threatening circumstances like this, she said further and noted how things have been difficult for her to learn about the same-sex marriage legality in Abu Dhabi and what can befall Tyler if she visits the country.

“I doubt there is any “solution” I would feel comfortable with the love of my life competing there.” The stress that Lilli’s under isn’t difficult to understand. While her sleepless nights aren’t unfounded, luckily, it seems like the surfing community also shares her outlook on the matter.

The surfing community shares its take on the issue

One professional surfing enthusiast thanks the situation is difficult to mitigate, especially when a matter like this hovers overhead. “it’s not easy to compete and maintain a positive mindset when you’re worrying about your safety everyday,” said the fan, claiming that the beauty of the UAE cannot offset the genuine concerns that it presents to homosexual athletes competing in the country. One Australian account is firm on the view that Tyler needs to be accepted for who she is.

Tyler Wright has amassed an impressive 16 WSL Championship Tour event wins. She also made a strong mark on the global stage by earning a bronze medal at the 2024 World Games in Arecibo as part of the Australian team and even qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. This is why “Taylor is a great athlete and deserves to be respected and accepted for everything she is,” reads their comment.

Tyler’s brother and sister-in-law also are extremely concerned about the 30-year-old surfer’s safety if she goes to Abu Dhabi. However, the fans are doing everything they can to help the family keep its courage. Elizabeth, another of Wright’s loyalists, assured Lilli that the latter’s tension was not unjustified, as the fan commented, “You have every right to be concerned and it is disheartening that the WSL is not more mindful of this,” urging the WSL to do better. Jess also voiced a similar opinion with her comment: “This is so heartbreaking,” and expressed her surprise at how human rights can be traded for more materialistic things. The 2x World Champion surfer will have to make a difficult decision about her career for next year, and the fans seem to be already in agreement that whatever it will be, they will be on board with Wright about it.

Nikki also isn’t a fan of how the WSL has turned a blind eye to the very people who make the sport a global sensation. “@wsl do better – your continued lack of evolution and erasure is damaging and harmful to the LGBTQIA+ surf community,” the surfing enthusiast frowned. While the excitement of seeing surfing icon Kelly Slater in Abu Dhabi for the first time is exciting, these fans can’t stop thinking about how can it also adversely affect others. What is your take on the matter? Tell us below!