Entertainment Gists
‘I Had Nightmares For Weeks’ – Lady Reveals Her Experience After Sharing Locker Room With Transgender Swimmer Lia Thomas
Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan has revealed her experience with popular transgender swimmer Lia Thomas saying trans athletes are a bad thing for women’s sports.
Paula Scanlan says she joined the swim team at UPenn as a way of getting over a nightmare from her past. Instead, it brought it up all over again.
The 23-year-old Scanlan (pictured below) began swimming at age 8, and she says the sports helped her recover after surviving a sexual assault in a bathroom at age 16.
“To be honest, swimming was the only thing that kept me going,” she told The NY Post.
But after earning her spot on the University of Pennsylvania’s swim team, Scanlan didn’t like the school’s decision to allow transgender athlete Lia Thomas to switch from the male to the female team meaning Thomas switched the male to female locker room.
Thomas, who had previously competed on the men’s swimming team, began swimming on the women’s team in 2021. She also began changing in the women’s locker room, which Scanlan said was traumatic for her as a sexual assault survivor.
“In general, bathrooms were a place I felt really uncomfortable,” she said. “I would just kind of relive the situation that I went through when I was 16.”
Scanlan described Thomas’s presence as “so incredibly uncomfortable” even for her fellow biologically female swimmers who resorted to changing in bathroom stalls and family bathrooms for the sake of their privacy.
“I would be at my locker and then all of a sudden hear a masculine voice, and I would just jump,” Scanlan recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, somebody got in here.’”
“It’s incredibly vulnerable,” she added. “I had nightmares for weeks about men being there while we were dressing.”
On July 27, she testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government in defense of women’s sports.
“If there had been a man on my team in high school, I would have quit, and I would literally have nothing,” she told The Post. “I would never have gotten into a good college. My entire life would have been derailed.
“If even one girl is discouraged from competing in sports over this, we’ve failed,” Scanlan added. “It’s so important to give girls these same opportunities.”
In retrospect, Scanlan said the decision to allow Thomas to change in the main locker room rather than an individual family bathroom was made without any meaningful solicitation of input from her teammates, most of whom she believes shared her reservations.
“If we had had more open conversations and more discussions, so much of this could have been avoided,” she said.
She said those who disagree with her have pummeled her with insults and accusations of transphobia.
“Telling me I’m transphobic doesn’t change my beliefs. It doesn’t change how I felt. It doesn’t change the nightmares I was having,” she said. “It’s just an excuse.”
“Most people on the other side of this issue have never come up with a single constructive thing to say to me. They just name call.”
“We didn’t end up being in any real true danger in that locker room,” she said.
“But what’s scarier for me is what we’re inviting as a society by allowing this. We’re inviting any man that might have bad intentions to come in.
“Just because Lia didn’t have bad intentions doesn’t mean that someone else doesn’t.”
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
MANAGER PROFILE
Uncle Wisdom is a Lagos-based music executive and visionary leader known for blending structure, strategy, and creativity in artist management. With a background in Mathematics and Statistics from UNICROSS formerly, Cross River University Of Technology. He brings analytical precision into talent development, positioning artists for both creative excellence and commercial success.
CAREER JOURNEY
Began his career in 2017 as an event coordinator for Eksu Olofofo, where he gained foundational experience in live events and audience engagement. By 2018, he transitioned into full-time artist management, driven by a clear goal to build a more structured and results-oriented system within the music industry.
In 2019, Started working as a road manager for Barry Jhay, gaining hands-on experience in touring, logistics, and artist operations, a refined career and mental awareness coach . He was also instrumental behind Barry Jhay’s 2025 sold-out homecoming concert, a key moment that fueled momentum for a successful UK tour, including sold-out shows in London and Birmingham.
PHLOX MGMT
Founded from the ground up, Phlox Mgmt is a forward-thinking management company focused on Career coaching, A&R, artist development, and strategic positioning. The company is built on a clear philosophy:
Develop the sound. Define the brand. Position the artist to win.
Phlox Mgmt has connections with @Roadgod_of Roadgod Agency and connects artists with top-tier producers, engineers, and creatives, ensuring a refined sound and strong market presence. The company continues to grow as a trusted platform for emerging and established talent.
INDUSTRY NETWORK & COLLABORATIONS
Uncle Wisdom has built valuable relationships across the industry, working with and alongside talents such as:
Barry Jhay • Asake • Ceeza Milli • Berri Tiga • Laime • Spellz • and many others
LEADERSHIP APPROACH
John Wisdom operates with a long-term vision, focusing on structure, consistency, and execution. His approach goes beyond traditional management he builds systems around artists that support sustainable growth, strong branding, and global competitiveness.
CONTACT & SOCIALS
Instagram & X: @Johnwisdm @phlox_mgmt
TikTok: @unclewisdom7
Email: phloxentertainment@gmail.com
Phone: 08038448478 | 09015668027
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