Scroll To Top
Sports

John McEnroe Wants a Mass Same-Sex Wedding in Margaret Court Arena

Margaret Court and John McEnroe
Margaret Court and John McEnroe

The American tennis champion proposed a unique response to the Australian player's anti-LGBT diatribe.

dnlreynolds

John McEnroe has slammed back against Margaret Court's anti-LGBT remarks.

The American tennis champion joined the chorus of criticism again the former Australian player, who caused an uproar for coming out against same-sex marriage, saying tennis is "filled with lesbians," and claiming transgender children were brainwashed with techniques similiar to those used by Nazi Germany and devil worshippers.

"That's all the devil. But that's what Hitler did and that's what Communism did -- got the minds of the children. And there's a whole plot in our nation and in the nations of the world to get the minds of the children," said Court, who is now a minister.

"Now I think I know where that hatred may come from," McEnroe joked in a clip released Sunday on Eurosport. He was referencing possible sour grapes on behalf of Court, who lost her 1973 Battle of the Sexes tennis match to Bobby Riggs. Riggs was later bested by a lesbian tennis player, Billie Jean King.

"Margaret Court is telling us, 'Tennis is full of lesbians,'" McEnroe said. "The way I see it, there are three options regarding this statement. Number one -- this is true, and who gives a fuck? Number two -- this is not true, and who should give a fuck? And number three -- this is half true, and should we really give a fuck?"

A number of tennis players, including out athlete Martina Navratilova, are calling for Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena to drop Court's name in advance of the Australian Open. McEnroe proposed a different approach.

"Keep the name and when same-sex marriage becomes legal in Australia, I will personally call my good friend Elton John to host the biggest same-sex, mass wedding ceremony ever seen -- in Margaret Court Arena," he said. "Margaret, that's just the kind of guy I am."

Jessica McNamee, the actress who plays Court in the upcoming film Battle of the Sexes, recently told The Advocate that the name shouldn't be changed -- although she strongly differed with Court's views.

"I guess I mimic her sentiment in that she has a right to freedom of speech, and I don't necessarily think that the name needs to be changed. Essentially, you know she was awarded that exclusively for her tennis; you can't deny that she was the best female tennis player of her time. But yeah, I definitely have strongly different beliefs than her."

Watch McEnroe's remarks below.

dnlreynolds
30 Years of Out100Out / Advocate Magazine - Jonathan Groff & Wayne Brady

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Daniel Reynolds

Daniel Reynolds is the editor of social media for The Advocate. A native of New Jersey, he writes about entertainment, health, and politics.
Daniel Reynolds is the editor of social media for The Advocate. A native of New Jersey, he writes about entertainment, health, and politics.