Eventbrite nuked from its site a “Protecting Women’s Sports” event that former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines is set to hold at the University of California, Davis next week — but had no problem hosting pro-Hamas event listings until Gaines’ supporters called the platform out on it.
The company cited a violation of its “Community Guidelines and Terms of Service” as its reason for removing the listing for Gaines’ event, claiming it does not allow events that “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.” Eventbrite did not detail how Gaines’ event about protecting female athletes from unfair treatment and harassment would constitute discrimination, harassment, incitement to violence, or any of the other buzzwords in its “guidelines.”
At the time Gaines’ pro-woman event was removed, Eventbrite maintained listings for various rallies and demonstrations that ranged from antisemitic to actively celebrating Hamas terrorists. Similar events taking place across American campuses have in one form or another advocated for the eradication of Israel, “from the river to the sea.”
After receiving backlash for leaving up the pro-Hamas rallies, Eventbrite eventually removed two listings they were called out for, without reinstating Gaines’ event or following up with her about its removal.
But as Consumers’ Research (CR), a nonprofit dedicated to increasing knowledge of “issues, policies, products, and services of concern to consumers,” pointed out, Eventbrite’s decision to take down the anti-Israel pages was not immediate.
“What does it say about Eventbrite’s corporate ‘values’ that they choose to cancel a female athlete for defending women’s rights in sports, a view that significantly more than half the country agrees with,” said CR Executive Director Will Hild, “but would help facilitate support of Hamas, a terrorist organization that just killed thousands of civilians?”
Hild pointed out that Eventbrite has a track record of canceling events that go against their politics. According to CR, “just last week, South Carolina’s attorney general challenged Evenbrite over censoring an event that warns against the dangers of” chemically and surgically altering a person’s sexual organs to match a perceived transgender identity, “featuring a 19-year-old individual who underwent the procedure.”
