Transgender comedian faces backlash for mocking Payton McNabb's brain injury caused by male volleyball player

Comedian Faces Backlash for Making Light of Trans Athlete's Brain Injury Causing High School Volleyball Player's Trauma

Stacy Cay, a transgender comedian, sparked outrage on social media after making a joke about former high school volleyball player Payton McNabb's traumatic brain injury. The incident occurred in 2022 when McNabb suffered a concussion, brain bleed, and permanent whiplash after being spiked in the head by a biological male trans athlete during a North Carolina high school match.

Cay's joke was widely criticized as insensitive and cruel, with many accusing her of mocking a teenage girl's traumatic experience. Payton McNabb responded to Cay's comments, stating that her joke wasn't comedy but cruelty, highlighting the importance of respecting reality and protecting girls from being priced out by trans athletes.

The incident has become a flashpoint moment in the cultural movement to protect women's sports from trans athletes. Mcnabb's story has been cited by government officials, including President Donald Trump and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who have emphasized the need for fairness and equity in women's sports.

Cay's response to McNabb's comments was met with backlash from other Save Women's Sports activists, including Riley Gaines and Jennifer Sey, who condemned her joke as a form of "cruelty" rather than comedy. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the need for greater sensitivity and respect in discussing sensitive topics like trans athletes and women's sports.

McNabb has become an outspoken advocate for protecting women's sports from trans athletes, testifying before Congress on the issue. Her story serves as a warning about the consequences of ignoring reality and allowing girls to be priced out by trans athletes.

Cay's response to McNabb's comments was seen as a prime example of how not to address sensitive topics. While she claimed that Cay's joke was "pretty funny," many saw it as a lack of empathy and understanding for the trauma experienced by McNabb and other affected individuals.

The incident highlights the need for greater sensitivity and respect in discussing trans athletes and women's sports, and serves as a warning about the dangers of ignoring reality and allowing girls to be priced out. As the debate over trans athletes in women's sports continues, it is essential that we prioritize empathy and understanding, rather than cruelty and mockery.

The joke just didn't land well... I mean, can you imagine how traumatic that experience must've been for Payton McNabb? A brain injury, concussion, and whiplash from being spiked in the head by a trans athlete - talk about taking it too far! And then to have someone make light of it? Not cool at all. I think some people just need to step back and consider how their words might affect others. Empathy is key here, folks.

I'm so confused by this whole thing . I don't get why people are making a big deal about some comedian joking around about a girl who got hurt playing volleyball. It's not like the joke was mean-spirited or anything... it just seemed like a normal joke to me . But then I read that the girl who got hurt was really traumatized and stuff, and yeah, maybe the joke wasn't the best choice . I get why people are upset, but at the same time, I don't think we should be "pricing out" girls from sports just because there are trans athletes playing too . It's like, can't we all just play together and have fun?

this joke was lowkey savage i mean who tries to make light of someone else's traumatic brain injury ?? the whole thing just feels so insensitive and cruel

I feel so bad for Payton McNabb, she went through a traumatic experience and some people think its funny? And what's with the joke about brain injury being like a "normal" part of sports? That's not normal, that's real life! People need to be more empathetic and understand how their words can hurt others. And I don't get why Stacy Cay thinks her joke was funny? Did she think it was okay to make fun of someone's traumatic brain injury? No way, just no.

And what's going on with the "Save Women's Sports" movement? It seems like some people are more concerned about trans athletes than actual women's rights. And why do they need to be "protected" from trans athletes? Like, isn't it okay if girls can play sports too?

I'm all for fairness and equity, but we need to be careful not to erase or marginalize certain groups just because we're trying to be inclusive. And I think that's what's happening here - people are being forced out of their own teams and leagues because they don't want to compete against trans athletes. That's not fair, that's just plain wrong.

We need more empathy, understanding, and respect in this conversation. Let's try to be kind and considerate towards everyone involved, rather than just one side or the other.

Wow

I think it's super interesting how this joke sparked such a huge reaction from people, especially Payton McNabb who was directly affected by it. I mean, it's one thing to make jokes, but making light of someone's traumatic experience is a whole different story. It's like, you can't just be flippant about something that could have caused long-term harm or even changed your life forever.

I'm also kinda wondering how the comedy community handles situations like this... do they ever think through the potential impact of their jokes on others? Like, would they make a joke if it was just one person who got hurt instead of thousands?

And what's even more interesting is that now Payton McNabb is using her story to advocate for protecting women's sports. I hope she gets the recognition and support she deserves for speaking out about this issue.

Interesting

this is getting so messed up ... i feel like stacy cay didn't think through her joke and now people are suffering from trauma because of it ... what if payton mcnabb was a comedian making fun of someone's experience? would we be okay with that? ... or is it just different when the tables are turned? ... i don't think comedy should come at the expense of hurting people's feelings or causing them pain ... maybe stacy cay should have thought about how her joke might affect others before she made it ... we need to be more considerate and empathetic in our conversations, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like this one

I'm not sure if making light of someone's traumatic brain injury is ever funny ... I get that Stacy Cay was trying to be a comedian, but Payton McNabb's story is really sad and serious. The fact that she had to deal with being spiked in the head by another athlete because her sex was 'fluid' is just heartbreaking . I don't think it's about being PC or not, it's just basic human decency. Can we please focus on supporting athletes who've been hurt, rather than making jokes at their expense?

I was literally shook when I saw this news . Like, you can't just make a joke about someone else's traumatic brain injury and expect people to find it funny . It's not a laughing matter at all. I feel so bad for Payton McNabb, she went through something so horrific and what did they do? They made fun of her .

And what really got me was the comedian saying that joke wasn't comedy but cruelty . Like, can you even be more honest about how hurtful your words are? I don't think anyone wants to hear jokes like that, especially not from someone who's trying to make a living off of making people laugh .

It's just so frustrating when people use humor to ignore the pain and trauma that others have experienced . We need to be more thoughtful and considerate with our words, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like this. I'm all for having respectful conversations about trans athletes in women's sports, but we need to do it without being cruel or insensitive .

Social media can't handle a joke. Trans athlete's safety shouldn't come second to someone's comedic timing

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one... as a fan of comedy, I think Stacy Cay went way too far with her joke . But at the same time, I can see why Payton McNabb was hurt by it - no one wants to be made fun of for something that's literally changed their life . It's like, if you're gonna make a joke about someone's brain injury, at least have the decency to do some research and understand what they're going through . Can't we just have a respectful conversation about this stuff instead of resorting to mockery?

I get what Stacy Cay was trying to do but seriously, couldn't she've made a joke about something else? I think Payton McNabb had every right to speak out against the joke and I feel bad for her having to go through that trauma again just to make a point. The issue with trans athletes in women's sports is complex but it doesn't mean we have to take shots at people who are already hurting. Let's keep the conversation about fairness, equity, and support for all athletes, not mockery and cruelty

omg i feel so bad for payton mcnabb she went through so much trauma from getting spiked in the head and stacy cay making light of it was not funny at all... like what if she's never bounced back from that? what if it affected her mental health forever? i think we need to be more careful with our words and consider how they might affect others. Cay should have just kept quiet on this one, sorry Payton

I'm so tired of comedians trying to be edgy . Can't they just stick to what's funny instead of making fun of someone else's trauma? This whole situation is a mess, and I think the joke was really uncalled for . Payton McNabb's story is heartbreaking, and it's not something you should joke about, especially when you're trying to be funny . I get that comedians are supposed to push boundaries, but sometimes they just go too far . And what's even worse is that this kind of thing is going to make people with brain injuries feel like their experiences aren't taken seriously . We need to be more considerate and empathetic when we're discussing sensitive topics .

this whole thing just feels like a big mess - stacy cay should've known better than to make fun of payton mcnabb's traumatic experience i mean, who would want to laugh at someone getting hurt bad enough to cause permanent whiplash? it's not funny, it's cruel and we need more people like payton speaking out about the importance of protecting women's sports ‍ this isn't a joke, it's a serious issue that affects girls' lives

I'm really disappointed in Stacy Cay right now . Like, I get that she's trying to make a point with her comedy, but this joke was just not funny at all. It was hurtful and showed no empathy towards Payton McNabb's traumatic experience. It's like, can't we just be respectful and understanding when talking about sensitive topics? The fact that she thought it was "pretty funny" is just mind-boggling to me. And now, the whole debate over trans athletes in women's sports has gotten even more heated... like, can't we all just get along? I think we need to be more considerate and thoughtful when discussing these issues, rather than resorting to cruelty and mockery.

I gotta say, I think Cay's joke was actually pretty funny . Like, she was poking fun at the absurdity of the situation, not really targeting Payton McNabb or her experience. And honestly, I don't think it's fair to call it "cruelty" just because it might've made some people uncomfortable . We need to stop being so sensitive all the time and learn to laugh at ourselves, you know? It's not about mocking someone's trauma, it's about making light of a ridiculous situation . I think we're taking this stuff way too seriously and it's getting out of hand . Let's not forget that sports are supposed to be fun and entertaining!