Samantha Wallace-Joseph: Netball star breaks her silence after 'hateful' post about trans people threw the sport into panic mode

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Netball star Samantha Wallace-Joseph has issued a qualified apology after sending the sport into damage control with a social media post slamming President Joe Biden for making March 31 the official Transgender Day of Visibility in the USA.

The move sparked outrage among some Americans as Easter Sunday fell on the date this year, even though the religious holiday won't occur on the same day again for at least a decade.

On Easter Monday, NSW Swifts star Wallace-Joseph - who is from Trinidad and Tobago - re-posted the news from the States and wrote: 'The disrespect is crazy. Don't play with GOD.'

When a fan complained about the 'hateful' post and said it should be taken down, the goal-shooter replied: 'My opinion still stands.' 

Samantha Wallace-Joseph (pictured, playing for the NSW Swifts) posted a shocking take on US President Joe Biden's announcement that March 31 is now the official Transgender Day of Visibility in the US

The Swifts issued a statement late on Tuesday night which included the shooter's apology.

'It was not my intention to upset and disrespect anybody and while I feel my post was taken out of context, I didn't say what I meant clearly,' Wallace-Joseph said in the statement.

'I did not wish to cause any offence to members of the trans-gender community and it is clear that I have and for that I am sorry.'

Her take on the news from the US threw the Swifts into panic mode, with the team conducting a crisis meeting with the 30-year-old before releasing a statement distancing the club from her stance on the issue.

The 30-year-old's comments were blasted as 'hateful' by one fan before her team stepped in

'The NSW Swifts are aware of a social media post by Samantha Wallace-Joseph earlier today which has caused understandable hurt to members of the transgender community,' the statement read.

'The views expressed in the post are not shared by the club.

'The club spoke with Samantha raising its concerns. It is important to note that Samantha listened and will meet with the club tomorrow.

'As a club we remain committed to ongoing education of issues of social importance and commentary.

'Many members of our family, both directly within the club and in the stands, identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community. The NSW Swifts Club will always be their allies.'

If her Instagram profile is anything to go by, Wallace-Joseph is serious about her religion.

Her Instagram bio references the Bible passage Philppians 4:13, which reads: 'I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.'

The Swifts held a crisis meeting before distancing themselves from the goal shooter's comments (Wallace-Joseph is pictured in action last month)

Wallace-Joseph (pictured) objected to the trans day religious grounds - but then issued an apology stating 'it was not my intention to upset and disrespect anybody'

Netball Australia introduced its transgender policy in September 2020, stating that the sport is 'committed to providing welcoming, inclusive and supportive places for all people to play our great game'.

The statement also said the body believes gender identity 'is not fixed' and 'exists on a spectrum'.

In 2022 then-chief executive Kelly Ryan slammed the federal government over a private member's bill designed to ban trans athletes from women's sport.

The controversy over Wallace-Joseph's remarks comes after a shocking year for the code in 2023, which resulted in stars and greats of the sport demanding the top brass at Netball Australia be sacked.