Friends and family of bisexual surfer Tyler Wright attacked the World Surf League (WSL) on social media after the organization announced that one of its stops for its 2025 Championship tour would take place in the United Arab Emirates.
The season will kick off in Hawaii in January before making its second stop at Surf Abu Dhabi the following month.
The venue, which is a new addition for the 2025 season, has the largest artificial wave pool in the world and, according to the Daily Telegraphwill appear in the programming of the next three seasons.
But UAE civil law and sharia criminalize same-sex sexual activity, and some of Wright’s friends and family have condemned the decision to host an event on the 2025 calendar on Instagram.
Wright, originally from New South Wales, identifies as bisexual and has been married to Lilli Baker since 2022.
The 30-year-old has won 16 times on the WSL World Tour, most notably landing the 2022 and 2023 Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.
His younger brother Mikey Wright, who also competed on the international stage, took to Instagram to criticize the WSL’s decision.
He wrote in a comment below the WSL’s post announcing next year’s tour dates: “This schedule should (be) rethought, you have no business hosting an event in a place where my sister can be sentenced by law to the death penalty.” ‘
Friends and family of Australian Olympic surfer Tyler Wright (pictured) have criticized the World Surf League for holding an event in the United Arab Emirates, where they say his sexuality will put his life at risk.
Wright’s wife Lili (pictured right, with Wright) was one of several family members to criticize the WSL for its decision to host a new event in the United Arab Emirates in 2025.
Tyler’s brother, Mikey Wright, condemned the scheduling decision on Instagram.
‘So much for equality and equal rights, only when it is convenient for WSL. You’ve rested the LGBTQ flag on her shoulder, but now you want to take it away from her and be silent to take her to a place where she risks this. punishment.
‘You have a responsibility to protect your athletes, and you are interested in seeing how you think you can protect them against the law. @wsl’
Lilli Wright published a post on Instagram, where she wrote a long caption criticizing the tour’s WSL for adding Surf Abu Dhabi to its 2025 schedule.
“Two days ago @wsl released their 2025 tour schedule,” Lilli wrote.
‘Unfortunately, homosexuality is illegal in one of the venues and my wife can legally be sentenced to death or prison if she tries to attend.
‘Tyler has competed on this tour for over 14 years and has had the pride flag on her jersey since 2020. Even after winning 2 world titles, the WSL still does not value her enough to be considered when they sold this event. The WSL has a duty of care to its athletes to not put them in potentially life-threatening circumstances like this.
‘It has been a disturbing journey educating myself about the legality and history of LGBTQIA+ rights in this place and I doubt there is any “solution” that I would feel comfortable with having the love of my life competing there. I see how hard my wife works every day in her career and it’s unreasonable to expect her to just not go.
Wright (right), originally from New South Wales, identifies as bisexual and has been married to Lilli (left) since 2022.
Tyler’s wife Lilli wrote: “Tyler’s homosexuality should not be a burden or obstacle in his workplace” while attacking the WSL.
‘Your life is worth more than an event, but I can’t help but recognize that missing this event would put your career at a huge disadvantage over the next 3 years that this location will be used. Tyler’s homosexuality should not be a burden or obstacle in his workplace.
He added: “However, I think it’s a conversation where you have a country like this that is investing a lot of money into being an international destination for professional sports competitions, especially when they have such strict laws on the LGBTQIA+ community.” At the end of the day, the WSL had absolutely no right to sell this event to this venue expecting their only openly queer athlete to do so quietly.
Australian figure skater Poppy Starr also commented on the post, writing: “I’ve had several Olympic qualifiers in Dubai and I’m in exactly the same position. As much as I can appreciate the beauty of the country, it’s not easy to compete and maintain a positive mindset when you worry about your safety every day.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the WSL and Wright’s teams for comment.
