



Eventbrite, a popular website for managing and ticketing events, has come under scrutiny for canceling a speaking event featuring former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines.
Known for her strong views against transgender females participating in women’s sports, Gaines was scheduled to speak at the University of California, Davis.
The event was part of the Speak Louder Campus Tour, backed by the Leadership Institute.
Eventbrite cited violations of its “community guidelines and terms of service” as the reason for pulling the plug.
The company’s rules prohibit content that discriminates or incites violence based on several factors, including gender identity.
“We have determined that your event is not permitted on the Eventbrite marketplace as it violates our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, with which all users agree to comply,” said an email from Eventbrite.
The company warned that breaking the rules multiple times could lead to a ban.
However, this decision has raised eyebrows and stirred debates about free speech.
Critics argue that Eventbrite is picking and choosing which viewpoints to allow, thus stifling free expression.
Gaines herself blasted Eventbrite, stating: “If being pro-woman in women’s sports is deemed anti-trans, then being pro-trans in women’s sports is inherently anti-woman. And that is the stand Eventbrite has taken. The event at UC Davis is still going to take place next month. My speech will not be stifled.”
She went a step further, calling out what she sees as a double standard. “By allowing pro-terrorist and antisemitic groups to keep their scheduled events on the Eventbrite platform, but canceling events discussing the importance of ensuring the safety, fairness and equal opportunities for women, Eventbrite has sent a clear message to all,” Gaines added.
Backing Gaines’ claim is Eventbrite’s hosting of another controversial event by a group called “Tempest NYC.”
The event, scheduled for next week, calls for a “Stop the Genocide! Free Palestine!” campaign. The description accuses Israel of declaring “total war against the people of Gaza,” among other claims.
Despite the sensitive and potentially incendiary nature of this topic, the event remains listed on Eventbrite.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Eventbrite and its CEO Julia Hartz for an explanation on this apparent double standard but has received no response as of the time the original article was published.
So, what does this all mean for free speech?
In today’s digital age, where so much conversation happens online, the power to allow or deny a platform to speakers has shifted to tech companies like Eventbrite.
While it’s true that as a private company, Eventbrite has the legal right to decide what events to host, critics argue that there’s an ethical responsibility to apply rules fairly.
The debate over who gets to speak and who gets silenced is becoming more urgent.
As platforms like Eventbrite continue to serve as key spaces for public discourse, their policies—and how consistently they apply them—come into sharper focus.
Despite the setback from Eventbrite, Gaines has pledged to go ahead with her UC Davis speech next month.
Her resolve highlights the growing tension between tech platforms and free speech, a debate that seems far from settled.
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