Bristol Palin denies she was "duped" by a rumor that Noah Galloway, the double amputee U.S army veteran, was a runner-up to Caitlyn Jenner for the ESPN Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
"Here's the thing. I didn't get 'duped,'" Palin, the daughter of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R), wrote on her blog Thursday. "I know that ESPN did not publish who was considered and rejected for the award. But it is certainly obvious that Noah Galloway and Lauren Hill did not receive the award."
Shortly after Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair this week, ESPN announced she will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at this year's ESPY Awards next month. The award, according to ESPN, is given to individuals "possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost." Past recipients include Muhammed Ali, Billie Jean King and Michael Sam.
Later in the week, a rumor circulated on social media that Jenner had beaten out Galloway, the double amputee veteran who came in third place on last season's "Dancing With The Stars," for the honor. Others lamented that Lauren Hill, the 19-year-old college basketball player who died in April from brain cancer, was not chosen. However, the sports network has given no indication it was weighing Galloway, Hill or any other potential honorees against Jenner.
Nevertheless, Palin lamented ESPN's choice in a Wednesday blog post.
"ESPN gave a 'courage award' to Caitlyn Jenner instead of this amazing veteran amputee," Palin wrote. "Isn’t that crazy!!! I hate how everything in this liberal world is, 'Oh equality for all, but not if you don’t agree with us!'"
Palin continued: "Here’s the thing. Caitliyn [sic] Jenner looks great! I don’t care what people do… honestly I have gay friends, but it drives me crazy that people like Noah don’t get recognized for sacrificing their LIFE for our country, while being gay/transgender makes you a hero."
After several news outlets called her out, Palin denied she had fallen victim to a social media hoax.
"The so-called 'hoax' was that he was perhaps 'runner up.' Who cares? I never said he was the runner up," Palin wrote. "The only hoax is the media's weird inability to see the truth."
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