Riley Gaines Rips Scripps Spelling Bee For Going Woke [WATCH]

Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines has publicly criticized the Scripps National Spelling Bee for including “womyn” as an alternative spelling of “women” in its list of approved study words for third-grade contestants.

Gaines expressed her frustration during an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity on Thursday, calling the decision part of the “fabricated issues” surrounding gender politics.

“How lucky are we to live in the United States of America, where the spelling of women, never mind the definition, has become a national debate,” Gaines said.

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She argued that issues like this are created by individuals who “believe they’re marginalized or oppressed” but are, in her words, living in “the greatest nation in the entire world.”

WAR OF WORDS: Riley Gaines blasts the National Spelling Bee for allowing feminist spellings for third-graders pic.twitter.com/rLkzTm74Ue

— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 14, 2024

Gaines rose to prominence after her criticism of trans athlete Lia Thomas and has since been a vocal figure in debates about gender and women’s sports.

She suggested that the Spelling Bee’s decision to accept “womyn” reflects broader cultural controversies, pointing to the 2023 Budweiser and Dylan Mulvaney marketing fallout as another example.

Gaines referred to Mulvaney as “a man who they dressed as Audrey Hepburn.”

The Scripps National Spelling Bee, however, defended the inclusion of “womyn” in its study materials.

A spokesperson explained that all words in the annual competition are drawn from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary, which lists “womyn” as an alternate spelling of “women” used in some feminist contexts.

“During competition, our policy is to accept any correct spelling listed in our official dictionary that isn’t marked archaic or obsolete.

The alternate spelling ‘womyn’ is therefore included on our study list because it is listed as an alternate spelling for ‘women’ in Merriam-Webster,” the spokesperson said.

The Oxford Dictionary also recognizes “womyn” as a variant of “woman,” with the spelling designed to avoid association with the word “man.”

Scripps emphasized that its word lists aim to include any alternate spellings listed in its official source. “The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary is the final authority and sole source for the spelling of all words offered in competition,” the organization stated.

Scripps National Spelling Bee is now allowing for an alternative spelling of the word “women”.

They approved of “womyn” to avoid having the word “men” in the spelling.

What do you think of this? pic.twitter.com/nlJlP4hyfn

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) December 14, 2024

Gaines’ remarks included a pointed critique of the implications of the Spelling Bee’s policy.

She suggested that the controversy surrounding gender terminology represents a broader cultural issue. “Imagine a kid getting the word ‘women’ and asking for the definition,” she said. “It would be this beautiful full circle moment because those with little-to-no common sense have not been able to answer that question for years now.”

The inclusion of “womyn” in the Spelling Bee is the latest in a series of debates over language, gender identity, and cultural norms.

While the organization maintains that it adheres strictly to its official dictionary, figures like Gaines continue to question whether such decisions contribute to cultural controversies or reflect broader societal trends.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee remains a widely recognized competition, but its policies and word selections will likely continue to face scrutiny as cultural debates evolve.

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