Maxim magazine named a former men’s league soccer player as one of their “Hottest 100 Women,” but failed to do a background check in favor of going woke.
Maxim, which used to have the slogan “the best thing to happen to men since women, made a controversial choice to name former Men’s Australian Football League (AFL) player and coach, Danielle Laidley, as the 92nd hottest woman.
The move upset readers and blew up spectacularly, when news of gender transitioner’s criminal past went viral.
The 56-year-old was arrested in May 2020 for stalking a woman outside of her home, while sitting in a car and taking photographs of her.
Transgender former football star Dean "Danielle" Laidley, has been included in Maxim Australia's Hot 100 list of successful & beautiful WOMEN.
He announced his transition after being arrested for stalking a woman in 2020….he was found guilty.
🤡 🌍 pic.twitter.com/71ARWdsjpQ
— Adam Brooks AKA EssexPR 🇬🇧 (@EssexPR) October 19, 2023
Between April 25 and May 2, the former half-back made made an excessive amount of phone calls and sent dozens of texts to the woman.
Laidley event went as far as leaving flowers on the victim’s car and also taking photos of it.
The AFL player, who was in the league from 1987 to 1997 and scored 151 goals against male competitors, was arrested outside of the woman’s home on seven charges of stalking and drug possession.
Laidley was wearing a a blonde wig and full face of makeup at the time of the arrest, and a body search revealed methamphetamine in the offender’s bra.
Unfortunately for the victim, the former North Melbourne coach’s arrest was grossly mishandled by police.
Members of the force leaked photos of the famous former athlete in a WhatsApp group that were later shared on social media.
We ran out of women? https://t.co/wh0lEMw9QE
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 19, 2023
Two officers, including one male Senior Constable were suspended for breaching a conduct act that barred them from disclosing unauthorized information when they shared the photos, likely because of the former premiership winner’s feminine look.
Due to the photos, Laidley’s gender identity was outed to the public, which Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Patton called “unacceptable conduct,” and said that he was “appalled.”
At a press conference Patton said that those involved with taking the photos and distributing them had been suspended, would be subject to disciplinary action, and were facing charges.
“It breaches a person’s privacy, it breaches their human rights and we take this matter extremely seriously,” he remarked.
Laidley spent nine days in jail before being released on bail, and apparently used the time to clean up and make amends with the family.
The former coach went to rehab and got mental health help, after “excessively using” the drug ice during the process of gender transitioning.
After getting clean, Laidley reconciled with all three adult children who were in “considerable distress” after police leaked photos of their dad dressed as a woman.
A factor the judge on Laidley’s case noted happened because “of you being outed in a way that was not appropriate.”
In court, Magistrate Jack Vandersteen lauded the former footballer for pleading guilty to the charges.
“Ultimately you, Ms Laidley, have done the right thing,” he said to the defendant, who was not present in court.
“You have accepted responsibility for your behavior towards [the victim], which has had a very significant impact on her,” Vandersteen continued. “You’ve affected her sense of security and well-being.”
Members of the AFL, including former teammates, coaches, and the league’s CEO Gillon McLachlan, testified on Laidley’s behalf.
Ultimately, the optics and the North Melbourne coach’s actions helped Laidley score a sweet sentence.
The magistrate dropped the drug charges in favor of awarding four months of probaition under a diversion program that lets first-time offenders off the hook if they acknowledge their crime.
Laidley was given a slap on the wrist for the other six charges, which saw the convicted stalker avoid jail time and a fine, in favor of an 18-month probation sentence.
The former AFL player has clearly stayed off drugs and out of trouble, as Maxim Magazine named Danielle as one of the “Hottest 100 Women.”
To which, Megyn Kelly responded: “We ran out of women?”