Channel 4 show The Last Leg and its presenter Adam Hills have come under fire for their reaction to a trans Italian sprinter competing at this year’s Paralympic Games.
In Paris on Monday evening, Valentina Petrillo, 51, took to the track in the hopes of securing a spot in the women’s T12 400m final.
The Italian Paralympian finished third in the race, meaning that the two athletes ahead secured a spot in Tuesday’s finale.
The visually impaired runner’s inclusion at this year’s games in Paris has been a subject of debate given the fact she was competing in male competitions just six years ago.
Rules set up by the World Para Athletics Association allow for transgender athletes to compete in women’s competition if they are “recognised as female in law”.
Following the semi-final race on Monday, Channel 4’s The Last Leg applauded the “inclusivity” of the Paralympic Games after Petrillo bowed out of the competition.
Presenter Hills said to viewers: “Congratulations to Italy’s Valentina Petrillo who today became the second trans athlete to compete at the Paralympics.
“The Dutch athlete Ingrid Van Kranen competed in the discus in 2016. Valentina was sixth fastest in her heats, came third in the semi-final (and) the final is tomorrow.
“Once again, showing how inclusive the Paralympic Games are.”
JK Rowling is one public figure who’s criticised Petrillo’s inclusion in the category and following The Last Leg’s coverage, several Channel 4 viewers followed suit.
‘This is just ridiculous. I just don’t understand why anyone bothers…’@PatrickChristys clashes with LGBT activist @PeterTatchell over a Paralympian competing in the women’s running after transitioning from a man, despite having previously competed as a man. pic.twitter.com/ZYdc7LkI6B
— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 2, 2024
Taking aim at Hills, one user fumed on X in response to a clip of the moment: “When presenters want a new contract they’ll take the money not the integrity, see all mainstream media for examples.”
“What message has your show shown to all female athletes? Utter disdain,” a second raged before a third typed: “#TheLastLeg Shame on you.”
“One of the reasons I stopped watching this show. Woke, massively left wing s***e,” another hit out before a fifth blasted: “This used to be a great show years ago but then it became so woke it hurt.”
Petrillo has previously hit back at trans critics earlier in the games, saying she “didn’t want to hear” any of the backlash.
“From today I don’t want to hear anything more about discrimination, prejudices against transgender people,” she told the Daily Mail.
“There are lots of people dying only for being trans, people are killed because they are trans, people commit suicide because they are trans and lose their jobs, or (they are) are not included in sport. But I made it. If I can make it, everyone can make it.”
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Following the semi-final defeat, Petrillo said: “I tried my best until the end, I didn’t make it, I missed the last straight. I pushed more than I did this morning and I tried my best.
“They are stronger than me, I had to go down too much, to do a 56 [seconds]. With 57.50, I have to be happy even if I’m a little down.
“I’m a little down, but I hope my son will be proud of me. This is important to me because he has a trans dad, not the dad that everyone dreams of.
“But I hope he will be proud of me.”
Petrillo will compete in the T12 women’s 200m races later in the competition.
GB News has contacted Channel 4 and Hills’ representatives for comment.
