Actor Hugh Laurie voiced strong support for WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham's stance against men competing in women's sports during an online exchange this week.

Laurie responded to comments from writer Graham Linehan on X, stating, “Firstly, f*** off; secondly no, I don’t believe men should compete against women. I thought I’d made that pretty clear.” When pressed on whether he backed Cunningham specifically, Laurie replied, “And yes, I support Sophie Cunningham.”

Cunningham, who plays for the Indiana Fever, first addressed the issue in a July interview with ESPN. She said she wants to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” The player later described her view as “common sense” while speaking to reporters ahead of a game.

Laurie’s comments came amid ongoing debate over fairness in female sports categories. Cunningham has faced backlash for her remarks but maintained her position on protecting opportunities for biological females.

The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement restricts participation to women, though the league has indicated it will review policies on the matter. Laurie’s intervention highlights growing public pushback against allowing biological males into women’s competitions.