Joy Reid Says She'd Be 'Disturbed' to See a Penis in Women's Locker Room — Conservatives Respond

Host Joy Reid said on her podcast that she would be "disturbed" to see a penis in a women's locker room, comments that quickly drew reactions from conservative commentators and activists.

On a recent episode of the "Reid This Reid That" podcast, Reid and co-host Jacque Reid discussed a viral video in which a California woman complained that a transgender woman repeatedly entered the women's locker room at a Gold's Gym in Los Angeles. Reid said she would have approached gym management if she encountered the situation described in the clip.

"What it's saying is if I turn around, and I see a pee-pee — a penis in front of me, inside of the room — I would probably go to management and say, 'Wait a minute. Why is there somebody — a naked man — in this room?'" she said. Reid added that her remark was not intended as an attack on the transgender community but as a statement about a woman's right to feel comfortable or, at minimum, "at least uncomfortable with the situation."

She also suggested that adding a third, gender-neutral option for bathrooms and changing areas could help reduce conflicts over access to single-sex spaces.

Conservative reactions

Conservative commentators and activists quickly highlighted Reid's comments, noting they echoed common right-leaning objections to transgender women using female spaces.

Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines: "Ah. Joy Reid says she doesn’t want to see a penis in the women’s locker room. She’s going to pretend she’s believed this all along, never addressing the years she spent attacking and smearing women who said this exact thing."

Social media account Libs of TikTok: "BREAKING: Joy Reid says if she saw a p*nis in the women’s locker room she would freak out. But I was told this is far-right, bigoted, hateful, extremism!"

Republican delegate Nick Freitas: "We are entering the ‘I never believed that nonsense’ phase by the people who not only believed but pushed the nonsense."

Canadian activist Chris Elston (aka "Billboard Chris"): "Just watch. In time, Joy is going to pretend she never pushed for all the insanity she pushed for, night after night. As will virtually every Democrat."

The exchange underscores the continuing national debate over access to sex-segregated spaces and how public figures address concerns from both transgender advocates and critics. Reid did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.