Danny Worsnop , vocalist of the band Asking Alexandria , recently became embroiled in a controversy on social media. Worsnop commented on Algerian boxer Imane Khelif , gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, incorrectly referring to her as a "man" (via Igor Miranda ).
Imane defeated Italian Angela Carini in 46 seconds after her opponent abandoned the fight due to injury. Her condition, hyperandrogenism, which elevates levels of male hormones, generated misinformation. False rumors suggested she was transgender and should not compete in the women's category.
Worsnop's statements, made via x/twitter , intensified the controversy, highlighting the challenges in debating sensitive issues and the spread of misinformation on the internet.
Danny Worsnop shared an article on social media. The headline stated that the Spanish national boxing team commission deemed Imane Khelif "too dangerous" to train against women. The article also mentioned that Khelif's coach confirmed a "chromosomal issue."
In the caption, Worsnop described the athlete's participation as "unacceptable" and wrote:
“Seriously… how long are we going to continue playing this game? In your personal lives, you can do whatever you want. But in combat sports, this is not acceptable on any moral or measurable level. Tolerance and acceptance have a limit, and we need to draw it to protect our women. We are nothing without them.”
The vocalist then further reinforced his controversial opinion by posting: “To clarify, I don’t believe in equality. We, as men, do everything in our power to provide for and create for the women of this world, who are magical and wonderful creatures. And we fight tirelessly to protect their elegance and innocence.”
Fans pointed out the singer's contradiction. One user highlighted the lyrics of the song "Not the American Average" by the band Asking Alexandria. In it, the vocalist insults a woman and speaks explicitly about sex. The user stated that the singer's declaration about "protecting the elegance and innocence" of women makes no sense in light of these lyrics.
Danny Worsnop's response to the comments
Danny Worsnop returned to social media to clarify his comments. He admitted to being under the influence of alcohol when he made the statements and asserted that the lyrics of his early songs do not reflect his true opinions about women. The vocalist also emphasized that his statement about not believing in equality was misinterpreted.
And he concluded: “I just want (with a clear head) to clarify and refine my post so there are no misunderstandings. By 'I don't believe in equality,' I meant that I don't believe that we (men/women) are equal and comparable. I think everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. What I really don't believe is that men can get into a ring and hit women… that was the point I think I was trying to make.”
Worsnop erroneously suggested that Imane Khelif was a "man." Geneticist Salmo Raskin , in an interview with the newspaper O Globo, clarifies that Khelif is neither a "man" nor "transgender." He explains that androgen insensitivity syndrome, which affects about 1 in 20,000 people, does not guarantee a competitive advantage. Raskin warns that testing only the Y chromosome can result in injustices.
Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria was founded in 2006 in York, England. The group started with a focus on metalcore and incorporated heavy metal, hard rock, and post-hardcore over the years. They achieved greater success in the US, with three albums in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The album From Death to Destiny reached number 5, while Reckless & Relentless and The Black both reached number 9.
The band released their eighth album, Where Do We Go From Here?, on August 25, 2023, featuring 11 tracks. Additionally, the group participated in the I Wanna Be tour , touring Brazil in March with shows in São Paulo, Curitiba, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte, alongside bands like Simple Plan and NX Zero .
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