Athletes continually facing criticism over self-expression
College athletes often face criticism due to concerns about expression, as they gain significant revenue and attention from the recently allowed NIL deals, and for universities while receiving limited compensation and facing strict rules regarding NIL endorsements and outside income. Recently, college basketball players Jared Mccain and Caleb Williams have been criticized for painting their nails, and they additionally signed with nail polish companies to update their NIL catalog. After these signings, they were bombarded with negative comments, surrounding and questioning the player's sexuality.
Some players, including Caleb Williams, will paint their nails a different color for every game and sometimes write a message throughout their 10 fingers. During a game in 2023, Williams painted his nails gold and cardinal red, the colors of his team, the USC Trojans. But over that color, he wrote the words “F Utah”. Both the message and the use of nail polish in general caused him to get a lot of backlash surrounding his fingernails. After this game, Williams was criticized for being more feminine, as football is portrayed as a masculine sport. A lot of fans took to the internet, commenting about how they felt he acted at the game, and claiming he wasn’t acting “masculine” enough.
College athletes who identify as LGBTQ+ or portray themselves in a feminine way often face unjust criticism and discrimination, revealing the challenges of gender and sexual stereotypes within sports culture. For instance, athletes who embrace conventional feminine attributes such as painting their nails or dying their hair, or express their LGBTQ+ identity openly on and off the field, often encounter hostility from fans, teammates, and even coaches. Male athletes who defy masculine stereotypes or openly identify as LGBTQ+ face increased amounts of backlash as their sports are often celebrated for their “masculinity”.
This was seen when former NFL player Michael Sam came out as gay in 2014. After being drafted to the NFL, Sam embraced his boyfriend on screen. This moment sparked a lot of response from fans and teammates. While some were supportive and stood in support of Sam, many criticized him, with other NFL players calling it “disgusting” and “horrible”. These instances highlight the ongoing struggle for acceptance and inclusion within the realm of sports, where diversity and individuality should be celebrated rather than criticized.
Carl Nassib's announcement as the first openly gay, active NFL player sparked significant conversation and support within the league as well. This challenged stereotypes and encouraged a more welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ athletes. While the NFL began to shift to a culture of acceptance and representation in professional football, Nassib and other athletes coming out have continued to receive backlash or lack of support from fans and other professional players. Professional athletes coming out as gay have played a great role in breaking down stereotypes and normalizing acceptance within the sports field, showcasing that gender identity doesn't dictate athletic ability. Their courage has brought up important conversations and inspired countless kids to embrace their authentic selves.
“Over the years, athletes have been getting criticized more and more because of what they want to wear, or even who they want to be with,” Kaden Alejandro (’26) said. “It should not matter what someone wants to do, or what they want to be. Society now is regulating these features, and it shouldn’t make fans hate athletes.”