English actor and comedian Hugh Laurie, best known for his role in the drama series "House," has expressed strong support for WNBA star Sophie Cunningham's position that men should not be allowed to compete in women's sports. Laurie made his stance clear in a social media post this week, stating, "Firstly, f--- off; secondly no, I don't believe men should compete against women. I thought I'd made that pretty clear."

Laurie's comments came in response to a since-deleted post by writer and trans activist Graham Linehan. Linehan then challenged Laurie to publicly support Cunningham, who has faced intense criticism after stating in an ESPN story published on July 21, 2026, that she does not believe women should have to compete against biological men.

Cunningham, an Indiana Fever guard, was seen reacting during a game against the New York Liberty on August 11, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Laurie emphasized that his position is not rooted in hatred toward transgender individuals, saying, "I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that.'" He added, "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."

The views of Cunningham and Laurie align with a majority of Americans, according to a New York Times poll conducted in March 2025, which found that 79% of Americans believe men should be barred from competing in women's sports.

Sources