A fierce controversy has erupted after a transgender comedian made jokes about the traumatic brain injury suffered by a teenage volleyball player during a school match.
Comedian's 'Cruel' Stand-Up Routine Draws Backlash
Stacy Cay, a comedian who is transgender, is facing significant criticism for comments made during a stand-up routine about former high school athlete Payton McNabb. In 2022, McNabb was struck in the head by a volleyball during a game in North Carolina, suffering a severe brain injury.
During her act, Cay claimed people avoid showing the clip of the incident 'because it's pretty funny actually'. She went on to mimic the incident, stating 'She gets hit right in the head and then falls over like a toddler'. Cay added, 'I don't know if there's a nice way to say this, but she should have been wearing a helmet. She shouldn't have been out there with the normal people.'
Life-Altering Injuries and a Victim's Response
The incident left McNabb with significant long-term physical and mental effects, including impaired vision, partial paralysis on her right side, balance issues, anxiety, and depression. In a powerful statement to Fox News, McNabb condemned Cay's mockery.
'A grown man mocking a teenage girl’s traumatic brain injury isn’t comedy — it’s cruelty,' McNabb said. 'My story isn’t a punchline. It’s a warning about what happens when adults ignore reality and girls pay the price. I suffer from something that changed my life forever. Your jokes won’t silence me; they only prove why this fight matters.'
Viral Outrage and Comedian's Defence
A clip of Cay's routine spread rapidly on social media, drawing condemnation from figures including women's sports campaigner Riley Gaines. Gaines highlighted the severity of the injury, noting McNabb was partially paralysed after being hit in the face by a ball from a transgender player.
In response to the backlash, Stacy Cay issued a statement to Fox, provocatively claiming: 'Looks like the woke left is trying to cancel another comedian.' This defence has further fuelled the debate, centring on the boundaries of comedy, trauma, and the intensely sensitive discussion surrounding transgender participation in women's sports.
