“I’ve never met a more arrogant, self-aggrandising person in my life.”
Two of the lovelier surfers I’ve known in my life, Layne Beachley, seven-time world champ and one of the greatest ever, and Keala Kennelly, a big-wave world champ of indisputable renown, are at war tonight after Keneally went public with a raft of accusations aimed at the Aussie surf legend.
Speaking on the podcast We Shouldn’t Be Friends, hosted by Nick Carroll and Hannah Anderson, the dynamic surf media team who were disappeared in a shock cull by wave forecasting website Surfline a few months back, Kennelly alleged Beachley made her life on tour hell and subsequently outed her as a lesbian to Billabong’s team manager.
“Layne doesn’t look up to anybody. She puts herself on her own pedestal and just looks in the mirror. I’ve never met a more arrogant, self-aggrandising person in my life,” Kennelly told a thrilled Nick Carroll, the smell of a scoop rising up to his silver whiskers, taking hold of him and making his head spin.
We had the same sponsor, Billabong, so I had to do a lot of things with her and stay with her. She actually made my time on tour very miserable, that one. Yeah, she like kinda outed me to my team manager at Billabong when we were in Brazil, which was really fucked to me at that time.
In a BTL exchange, Keneally plunges her claws into Beachley’s heart.
“When your not so secret weapon is shitting on everyone else to make yourself seem big and them small, then you’re just an asshole with a lot of trophies.”
Kennelly, who is forty-seven, has often spoken of her struggles as a gay gal on tour, although let’s face it she was hardly alone, saying that it was “not okay to be a lesbian” and that if you did prefer shaved babylike snatches to rock-and-cock Tom Selleck lookalikes it was “career suicide.”
In 2005, when Kennelly, aged twenty-seven, eventually came out she “faced a wave of homophobia from companies and other surfers that eventually led her to leave the sport.
“I actually quit the tour shortly after I came out because I couldn’t handle mentally and emotionally what that was like. Then I had a few sponsors drop me and so, that was just more confirmation that it wasn’t okay. I left the tour because, emotionally and mentally, I just couldn’t handle it.”
Times change, of course, and Kennelly notes the world champ Tyler Wright wears a contest jersey with a gay flag.
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Hey Derrick how much is Nic paying you to be his Grit Bitch.
layne always seemed like a dike anyway
The edited KK story as I see it. Grew up on an idyllic tropical with pumping waves and even beat the Irons Brothers in their first event. Made the tour and luckily picked up really good sponsors. Layne is mean to her, she cant deal with the pressure of “coming out” despite the large majority of people already assuming she was gay, falls off tour and loses her sponsors
Gets into big waves and takes out a world title and a hefty pay day despite not even making a takeoff. Never had to work a “real” job in her life and is now back twenty years to tell how Layne was a fuckwit, which most of us already knew and tell us how hard coming out was on tour.
Most on here say I just dont really care if someone is gay or not but some are so offended by the comments they claim to be embarrassed to be a straight man and for reasons I cant get my head around are even embarrassed to be white?
Fucking crazy, soft times we are living in ay hahaha
I don’t think anyone had to “out” Keala as a lesbian – it was rather obvious to everyone, on tour or off.
She lost her sponsors and her surf career because she wasn’t that good. End of story. Managed a career out of going over the falls on giant waves…
the biggest scoop i got from this is that tyler wright is still on tour
(given the topic I’ll add my opinion that TW’s choice of gender or love interest is her least insufferable attribute)
I loathe the frontside layback
Too far into the flats, zero spray, all her speed bled
Look forward to her criticizing Caity 20 years from now on uncle Nick’s hologram podcast
You won’t be around then.
Very true
KK is a self promoter, should have given back that big wave trophy when she couldn’t make a single wave during her “ win”
Wonder if Nicky brought that up?
And why are Gays such happy campers and Lesbians insufferable? Tyler, Jody, KK……. No fun.
Low lying fruit busting on Layne too, no revelation
Simple question, how do you win a contest where not one competitor has a successful wave ridden?
I’ll hang up and listen for an answer
Points are given for the take off. Her points were higher than the others. Not her fault the others were even more kooky than her on the day.
It was a shit show, yes but who wouldn’t take the winners check home?
Maybe women’s big wave surfing grew that day? Incrementally, macro view.
Just call it a draw and give the participants something to build upon.
No fanfare, no year end awards, just motivation, we’ve all been there
Grinding axes on podcasts with uncle Nick over exponentially more accomplished humans seems pretty much what she accuses Layne of being. Gay narrative was edgy 20 years ago, tired now. Can imagine there’s pressure to sound interesting with time to fill and nothing new to say
That’s on the competitors to make that call as some took off and got smashed and others sat on the shoulder.
Storm in a teacup really, just a soundbite from a 90 minute candid conversation.
can’t imagine listening for 90 minutes
Perfectly put sir
Emi Erickson made her waves and should have been crowned, but…..agenda’s gonna agenda
Oh wow. Agenda?!? LOL so not surprised to hear this sort of revisionist history from you. Emi only caught one fat small wave in the heat, way on the shoulder and didnt ride out of it.
Emi was the only person to make a wave to the channel. Emi got a 7.6.
KK didn’t even make it to the bottom of her highest scoring wave an got a 5.3. Normally when you don’t make the drop….you get 1.
shoulder, make the wave. peak, don’t even make the drop
who gets scored higher in a comp, judge?
At the most basic Mirco grom level. A grom taking of in the whitewater, no matter how many turns they do will lose to the grom who takes off on the face even if they kook it. That grom is in the arena. Many a pissed parent coming at me over the years with that one.
KK was fucking deep and committed. That is undeniable and thats what scores at Jaws, it’s not a normal contest. Soft roll ins on the shoulder outside of the main arena shouldn’t really count. Likewise surfing pinballs at the Eddie.
That said Emi just needed to stand up on a second wave and she would’ve easily won, likewise Page. KK caught two. Emi also got gobbled up by the whitewater too before she hit the channel.
It was a shitshow, but to be fair a benchmark effort in some crazy conditions for the time. Certainly not some woke agenda as suggested.
got it. Im not a surfing judge but if you don’t make the drop you don’t get a score. if that is the case I may go n the pro tour. I wipe out a lot.
Dont let it stop you Flick has made a big wave carreer out of s sigle tow in and a shoulder hop wioe out.
Gays are more like girls and lesbians are more like blokes?
I see what you did there.
parade clap emoji
Funny stuff. A guy that calls himself “Hippy” but is known as a 3’ Topanga specialist is clowning a chick that was literally scalped on a 12’ er at Chopes…. and came back for more.
Would love to see you say that to her face.
Enjoy your trip to San Onofre? Did you charge?
Day she got her face peeled back was 3 ft.
Laynes a cockhead. And you all know it. Or you’re a dumbcunt. And no I’m not lezzo.
KK’s lack of talent and miserable attitude were the real issue. I think she could use a HamSammish.
I haven’t listened to the poddy but as a middle aged heterosexual white male of privilege, it’s my right to be outraged by someone different to me and it’s my obligation to yell at the clouds in an internet comment section and force my correct opinion down your throat. And then there’s Keala
Nobody could tell keala was a lesbian before lanyne blew her cover.
Said nobody ever
A pair of cunts being a pair of cunts interviwed by a cunt.
“I’ve never met a more arrogant, self-aggrandising person in my life.” Is there a higher compliment than that? So she’s essentially saying Layne’s very Presidential. Passionate flattery like that definitely ain’t grounds for a feud.
You realize the surf world is such an idiotic backwards space when this
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Is more relevant than this
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I’m actually embarrassed to be a straight white man after reading some of these comments.
Hang on where did being white come into this? I am obviously Strayan but of heaps of different origins so would describe myself as a dark beige. Me groms mums is a quarter Afro American as well as my own origins so maybe she is light brown? I thought this thread was about many of us being completely over hearing about how hard lesbian surfers had it?
Life was easy for straight white man in that era of discussion.
Are you saying lesbian surfers of KK’s generation didn’t have it hard and should just shut up? You might not want to hear about it, but you don’t have to either.
Don’t click on lesbian “hardship” stories if thats what you don’t want to hear. Easy.
The interia probably still doing rock climbing and how to do pop up’s stories if you’re too offended with hearing real unfiltered and zero fucks given voices in surfing.
“Life was easy for straight white man in that era of discussion.”
Overgeneralize much?
I can assure you not every straight white man has had an easy life – many have not.
Wow, deep take.
Of course I’m generalizing. Sorry, to all the straight white men that had it harder. #Metoo
Na I’m really up for hearing unfiltered and zero fucks given voices in surfing but all thats here is KK on a “poddy” carrying like a pork chop about shit I already knew and dont care about
Point is. If you don’t care about it and already know about it, what the hell are you doing here commenting about it.
Boredom I suppose, never been good with being crook. Negs why are you so revved up about this subject? A huge majority on here seem to be saying they dont give a shit about KK, Layne and the whole lesbian on tour thing but you’re treating this like its cutting edge news.Not being a cunt, just interested
I’m interested in the underdogs of the surf world perspective and I’ll stick up for underdogs in general when the “majority” tells them to shut up.
Is anyone getting paid to surf an underdog?
Really?
I mean Tyler has her grievances but was getting paid over a million a year as a teenager, bought her first piece of coastal real estate at 20.
Honestly, how legitimate is a victim narrative when your circumstances are that comfortable?
Tyler is one of the most privileged people in the world.
Within the industry itself there’s certainly underdogs in comparison to their peers.
Does someones sexuality or gender though now make that a distinction?
Yeah it still does to a degree. Let’s say if Ethan Ewing came out as Gay. Will 13 year old Groms want to wear what the only gay surfer on tour reps? If two Mikey McDonaghs types way down the ladder had their CV’s on the table and one was gay. Sponsor has to pick one. They’ll pick what works for the best market return. On the other hand if Mendina came out he’d probably double his income. There’s levels and it factors in still.
Probably right on the latter and middle- doubt it would make any diff at all for EE either.
Probably a bigger hindrance for males to come out as gay now rather than females- that door well and truly busted down.
Dang, I wish he would come swinging that round ass out of the closet. Oowee, I’ll join!
Hahahahaha good old Sweet Cheeks
Sasha posted an edit surfing G-land.
Cabn’t believe you missed- slipping brutha.
Well sponsored and paid no matter if she is even surfing but finds issues where none exist and makes out she is so hard done by. I am embarrassed by her being Australian cuz I thought even these days we were heaps better than that
A noble pursuit mate and as a Strayan I too love an underdog story. Only difference is with stories like this I dont really care what the minority or majority think or say and just read it or listen to it and make my mind up. To me KK doesn’t really sound like she had it too hard and for the reasons of clicks and attention is bringing up things from 20 years ago that not many people even care about. Just my take so please dont take offence
ja, methinks so too, that she didn’t have it that hard in the golden era of surfing. KK seems more competition to Layne than victim but hey, that’s just from media impressions so I take it with a pinch of salt. I’ve never met a guy that didn’t think lesbian chicks were kinda hot but man, some do carry a lil chip on their shoulder. makes for a good podcast, that’s for sure.
BG’s wizards know the shit going to fly with this post.. appears get strapped crew still alive and well.
Seriously?
If so, you’re an idiot, and a rather pathetic one at that.
Pathetic idiot it is! #Metoo.
Ironically it’s the lady in the first picture helping make it like this by carrying on about shit that went on about 20 years ago. We live in strange times ay
One Iook at her and I see Ice and Dyke. Not a well kept secret.
long before KK revealed herself and wouldn’t shut about about being lesbian, there was Lynne Boyer and Jodie Cooper who everyone in the biz knew were lesbian….but they didn’t need to scream their sexual preferences through a bullhorn.
what was that about self-aggrandizing?
Wait, ain’t you the guy that said he keeps his conservative political viewpoints to himself as he doest want it to effect his business ventures/ income in the art world which is slightly more left of centre???
wait, I can buy Camper’s art? Can he do a commision to paint a No Kings mural?
No way, camper paints too?!
you’re a painter as well? Shit, everyone paints around here
I kind of do, without paints
Very intuitive, Com
chicken/egg?
paints….and _________too?
how much you money you got?
Be more than happy to create that piece.
I’d set up a No Kings crowdfunding campaign for that—imagine I could raise something rather substantial.
let me know. what’s the canvas/wall size?
that depends on how large the exterior of Trump’s ballroom that he is replacing the East Wing with ultimately will be. This will be a job for a few years down the road, sure that President Newsom will approve
In 1902, the “East Wing” was created as a guest entrance.
In 1942, FDR built the current East Wing as an extended office building.
However, what is more important is not the facade but what lies beneath.
Beneath the East Wing is a bomb shelter which has evolved over time into the White House Emergency Operations bunker. This is the place where the Executive Branch would operate the country from in case of an attack.
In 1942, the bunker would have withstood attacks/weaponry of that era. After 80 years, that bunker is in disrepair and in need of foundational repairs and restructuring to withstand more modern attacks/weaponry.
The ballroom will beautify the White House.
The reinforced, modernized and technologically sophisticated bunker may someday save our nation.
You still want me to paint a mural?
Fantastic that the president wil be able to live maybe a few weeks longer than everyone else in the event of general nuclear war (a bunker won’t do shit against the fallout of a strategic nuke or two no matter how deep you dig it), but I still would like that mural painted.
Screw him to the wall, rich lawyers who want to show off to their friends are some of the best clients out there.
would be a great mural if I literally “screwed him to the wall” and made him an active part of the mural.
I wouldn’t even need to paint. The public would paint it for me.
Just place a bin of rotten tomatoes and eggs near it and a sign that says:
THIS GUY’S A LAWYER
sounds kinky!
Speaking of kinky, I see you got sloppy seconds over at STAB re comment of the month.
I’m at least expecting a Christmas card from Kama’aina on account of that.
sweep the leg Johnny.
just saying it was nothing new for a a woman pro athlete to be recognized as a lesbian…way before KK busted down the door.
Shit didn’t really change in that time frame between them did it.
everyone knew they were lesbian….nobody gave a shit.
they just never had a flag to fly and didn’t stand on a soap box yelling
“LOOK AT ME……I’M GAY”
I can see you cant grasp the steps nor have the compassion and empathy for going from a locked Closet, to opening the door, stepping out into the light and having the sunlight on you and how what would make someone feel and act.
better grasp than you, negs.
the 80’s were the era when all the closet doors flew open. I worked in L.A. at that time in a highly gay populated industry, so yes I had compassion and empathy….but more important was understanding, acceptance and friendship.
My attitude was and always has been:
“I Yam What I Yam & Dats What I Yam!” ~Popeye…and that applies to everyone I meet.
We all have closets and we all at some point in our lives have to open the doors and shine the light on who we are. Personal struggles and insecurities in all of our lives. many much more difficult than ones sexuality. It’s part of the human condition. We create our own environment and circumstances.
I don’t judge people for who they are. I judge based on actions…and my point was simple.
KK was not the first to come out of the closet and it is highly unlikely that her sexual preference played negatively into her limited career.
sponsored athletes are sponsored for one reason, and if KK’s sponsorship was not advantageous to the bottom line….so be it….and if the 7 time world champ didn’t bro-down with KK and didn’t think KK was worthy of being on the same team….so be it.
“so yes I had compassion and empathy….but more important was understanding, acceptance”.
Except for those noisy, loud and proud soapbox flag wavers type gays.
But yeash sir, I say sorry sir, old hilly billy here aint never been in no big city boss man with those homosexual types.
you missed the point again.
no surprise.
Remember the NSSA days? It was surprising when women were straight
Why do lesbians always have short hair and anger at the world?
Its like the stereotype fat guy working behind the counter at the comic store.
Haha has Tyler had a haircut? I have no idea why homos carry on like the the world is against them when they can get married, “have kids” etc just like the rest of us heteros? They have Gay Pride Week, or month or year or whatever it is now, want their flags up everywhere and love playing the victim when most fellas and ladies I know couldn’t give a shit about what they get up to, just shut up and get on with it.
An interesting stat is lesbian marriages have the highest number of divorces, followed by those of a man and a woman and the ones who have the least is marriages of gay men. Anyone want to take a guess why that is hahaha
Pot met kettle.
Maybe you could just shut up and get on with it also? a shit ton of moaning today from you. This isn’t your diary and we’re not your poor wife/shoulder to cry on after a rough day at work.
Sorry sir I had no idea I was moaning and thought I was just expressing an opinion. I have had influenza the last few days so maybe that is why I have been such a sook? Apologies to you and everyone and from now on I will just agree with the articles or stay silent. Surfing culture is in safe hands
Surfing culture is what’s happening at the car park at your local. The rest is fluff.
Sorry to come at you, but the whole 90’s Ozzie fucken Homo lesbo chit chat has run its course. You’re not in the back room of the fantasy Surfer forum now, you’re at Beachgrit and we demand better discourse.
Again sorry sir and I will try harder in the future
Thanks bud, hope the flu passes quick. Worst winter ever for me over here caught it 4 times. Arggghhh
Your
demand
better
discourse
……………….
on beachgrit..
*You
And better vocabulary
*typo
“An interesting stat” you say? Sounds like you’re just quoting Jim Jeffries from his latest standup gig on Netflix…
Haha ya got me but I love him and he must have done some serious research?
Maybe because the world is actually against them. People don’t like gay people.
If people really don’t give a shit try walking into a restaurant or a supermarket holding hands with a man friend, and see what sort of looks you’ll get.
Just the other day two guys were at the coffee shop lathering and kissing and taking provacative selfies.
Nobody cared….
Good
No idea where you’re from but it sounds pretty fucked if thats the case. Here on the Far North Coast nobody gives a rats if two gay guys are holding hands, why would they? Strayans are known for being relaxed people and if whatever any cunt is up to if it doesn’t concern them they just let each other get on with it. The Strayan saying “whatever lifts your skirt” sums it up pretty well
Higher intimate partner violence too.
Clip-on ponytail.
Or the lonely sad guy on the comment board.
There there it’s ok, do you feel better now that you got that off your chest?
He IS “Nega”tron afterall…
You used to give Vaughan Blakey shit for writing off the comment section as sad guys. I remember. I’m also saving that “Time will show me to be on the right side of history” comment for a suitable moment and the the “There’ll be another side to that story” comment. Actually, re this piece – there’ll be another side to that story.
I’m glad you’re here to remind me of what I’ve said. Cant remember the subject on what side of history I’m supposed to be on, but the right side does sound the better option.
I was expecting a joke
How do you know if lesbians built your house?
There’s no studs, it’s all tongue and groove…
I thought Tyler had a rainbow flag on her jersey not an Aussie one?
Tyler has so many flags you cant see her jersey.
A jersey on her flags
Have a look at her Barrel of the Year winner from 2016 again. The steely focus she has trying to make that bomb is something we will never know. Respect.
I am trying to think of a single thing I would rather do less than listen to KK moan about how hard she had it being a carpet muncher on tour and I cant think of a single…… Wait I’ve got one listen to Tyler moan about how hard she has it on tour being a carpet muncher and how bad her periods are. What the fuck is happening to the surfing world. I suppose KK won that world title by not even making a takeoff which takes some doing ay
Says the person with a picture of themself hanging on the wall behind them…