Sometimes, Pimms and Wimbledon can’t fix bad behavior. Martina Navratilova has never been one to shy away from speaking her mind. But this time, she might’ve volleyed herself straight into a hypocrisy scandal. The tennis legend and Real Housewives of Miami spouse is facing serious heat after posting (and then quickly deleting) a controversial take on surrogacy. And when you’re married to a woman who openly explored parenthood in front of cameras, you don’t get to throw shade at surrogacy without expecting the internet to clap back.
The comments weren’t just tone-deaf. They were out of touch with both her public platform and her own personal history. Let’s break down why Martina’s tweet caused such a stir, and why fans are calling out the double standard.
Martina Navratilova’s surrogacy comments caused controversy
It all started with one post on X (formerly Twitter), where Martina shared an article critical of surrogacy and added her own commentary. The article written by Sienna Rodgers asked the question of how surrogacy might commoditize women’s bodies. Specifically, she wrote, “There are fears that women – particularly students and others of low income – are being financially incentivised to donate their eggs amid a cost of living crisis.” The article itself is compelling, but it feels like Martina missed the mark. Or at least failed to elaborate on what she took from the article. The former tennis pro reposted and added, “Surrogacy is just wrong. Sometimes you can’t have it all.”
The problem? That kind of sweeping statement isn’t just offensive. It’s flat-out dismissive of thousands of families, including many in the LGBTQ+ community, who rely on surrogacy to build their families. It didn’t take long for users to respond, many pointing out the irony of someone in a same-sex marriage who has long advocated for equality and reproductive rights. To make matters worse, Martina’s tone was more scolding than thoughtful. There was no nuance, no acknowledgment of the complexities surrounding surrogacy, and certainly no empathy for the people, especially women who choose this path willingly. And in the age of RHOM transparency, where cast members routinely bare their souls (and fertility struggles) on camera, it felt like a slap in the face.
Why Martina’s surrogacy dismissal seems hypocritical
The backlash isn’t just about what Martina said. It’s about who she is and who she’s married to. Martina’s wife, Julia Lemigova, is an active cast member on RHOM, and her journey to motherhood has been a central storyline on the show. Julia has opened up about the devastating loss of her son, her desire to parent again, and the emotional toll of reproductive challenges. She even discussed the possibility of expanding their family with Martina on camera.
So when Martina publicly bashes surrogacy as if it’s some unethical fringe practice, it feels like a betrayal, not just to the fans, but to her own wife. You can’t support your partner’s vulnerable family planning conversations on reality TV, then jump on social media and shame one of the very options she might’ve considered. Martina’s also spent years advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. She’s spoken passionately about adoption rights, marriage equality, and the need for inclusive family policies. She is known as a human rights activist. This feels like hypocrisy. She and Julia were lucky. Any adoption service could have said no due to their age, health history, or sexual orientation. It’s happened before. Martina shouldn’t benefit from the public goodwill of being a trailblazing queer couple on national television while undermining the reproductive choices that many in the community rely on. That’s not activism.
Martina has now deleted her surrogacy post on X
After several hours of mounting backlash, Martina quietly deleted the post. No apology. No clarification. Just a digital vanishing act. And while deleting the tweet might’ve cleaned up her timeline, it did nothing to address the real damage. The silence speaks volumes and not in a good way. In the Bravo world, where cast members are held accountable for everything fans expect more. Martina might not be a full-time housewife, but she’s part of the RHOM universe now. That comes with responsibility.
Deleting the tweet without explanation isn’t transparency. She’s trying to avoid having to explain herself. And maybe we all read the tweet wrong. But Martina’s refusal to engage in a meaningful dialogue about why her comments were harmful reinforces the idea that she said what she said, and doesn’t care who it hurt.
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