Comedian John Oliver has called out false claims surrounding transgender athletes in his latest Last Week Tonight segment — including the oft-repeated myth that cisgender athletes have lost 900 medals to their trans counterparts, a figure author JK Rowling has amplified.
In his 6 April episode, Oliver, known for his incisive political commentary and support for LGBTQ+ rights, delivered a detailed takedown of misinformation about trans athletes. He clarified that the “900 medals” claim is not only misleading but also based on deeply flawed and exaggerated data.
“That number included competitions down to the level of a fun run in Topeka, Kansas, and an Irish dance competition,” Oliver said. “It also counted activities where gender confers no advantage, like poker.”
The segment further dismantled popular anti-trans talking points, including the theory that trans women transition purely to gain a competitive edge, and the idea that they pose a threat to fairness or safety in women’s sports. Oliver cited instances where cisgender female athletes have publicly supported their trans competitors, contradicting claims that trans inclusion is universally opposed.
“This issue is an obsession for Republicans,” Oliver said. “Last year, they spent over $116 million just on TV ads featuring trans athletes. The relentless focus on this over the years has had a meaningful impact.”
He also took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump for his recent executive order seeking to ban trans women and girls from participating in female sports, part of a broader anti-trans agenda enacted during his second term.
Oliver didn’t hold back on JK Rowling either, referencing a previous lengthy post she wrote in response to his support of trans rights. “It feels a bit weird to catch that much heat from the creator of Harry Potter, especially when I clearly look like what would have happened if they had just left him in that cupboard for the rest of his life,” he joked.
Rowling, who was already facing backlash after dismissing International Asexuality Day as “fake oppression day”, responded to Oliver’s segment on 7 April via X (formerly Twitter).
Resharing a clip from Last Week Tonight, she wrote: “I understand why men like Oliver, who’ve consistently mocked anti-science people on the right, sold out initially. They didn’t want to blow up their careers. Taking fashionable anti-women’s rights positions was the cost of doing business. But it’s time to read the f**king room.”
The broader debate follows Trump’s recent executive actions targeting trans rights. In response, LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD issued a statement defending the rights of all women and girls, including transgender individuals.
“All women and girls, including transgender women and girls, should be welcome to play sports if they want, make decisions about their own bodies, be hired for jobs they are qualified for, and be free from lawless attacks by elected officials,” the organisation said. “Trump has zero credibility in any conversation about protecting women and girls.”
