Eventbrite Faces Boycott After Riley Gaines Alleges Ban

Former college swimmer Riley Gaines has accused events platform Eventbrite of removing her speaking engagement listing on the website scheduled for November 3 at the University of California, Davis.

Gaines has gained prominence for advocating against transgender women competing with cisgender women in sports. She took part in campaign ads last year, criticizing Democrats on their positions on transgender rights, Bloomberg reported.

The November 3 event was going to be about "being pro-woman in women's sports," according to a statement Gaines provided to Outkick. Gaines posted on Twitter a screenshot of what she said was an email she received from Eventbrite that her event was not permitted on its platform as it "violated" its community guidelines.

"Specifically, we do not allow content or events that—through on or off-platform activity—discriminate against, harass, disparage, threaten, incite violence against, or otherwise target individuals or groups based on their actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, age or disability," the note from Eventbrite said. "Repeated violations of our guidelines may result in the suspension or termination of your Eventbrite account."

Newsweek has not yet independently confirmed whether Gaines has been banned from the platform.

Newsweek reached out to Eventbrite for comment via email as well as to Gaines for comment through her organization the Riley Gaines Center.

The development prompted Republican Senator Ted Cruz from Texas to urge people to boycott Eventbrite.

Gaines, in her statement to Outkick, argued that she was pro-women in sports and promised that her event will go ahead next month. She urged her followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, to give Eventbrite the "Bud Light treatment."

Conservatives have in the past gone after companies they deemed to be anti-their values.

Companies like Target and Disney, have come under attack for their pro-LGBTQ+ policies, and have seen their share prices fall following the consumer backlash.

In some cases, they are launching their own companies or investment funds. The right-wing backlash is growing and presents a challenge for businesses as they try to balance the interests of their employees, consumers and campaigners when it comes to social issues, Newsweek reported last year.

Bud Light, for example, was the subject of threats of boycotts after it sent a promotional can to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which may have affected sales.

On Gaines, Eventbrite looked to have advertised her events in the past. In June, the platform carried a "Save Women's Sports with Riley Gaines" event which advertised that attendees would "meet Riley Gaines and join our efforts at Latinos for Tennessee, Young Women for America, and Young Republicans to protect women's sports."