Who is Ender Inciarte? Ex-MLB Gold Glove winner questions Disney Cruise Line policies after viral social media post

Ender Inciarte sparked a strong online debate this week after sharing his frustration about an experience on a Disney cruise. The former Major League Baseball outfielder said he felt uncomfortable after seeing a man dressed as a woman during a family trip.

His comments were posted publicly and quickly drew both support and backlash.The incident happened during a recent Disney Cruise Line vacation. Ender Inciarte, who is traveling with his family, said the moment crossed a personal line for him as a parent. He later explained his words were based on belief, not hate.

Ender Inciarte explains why Disney cruise moment upset him

On Monday, December 16, 2024, Ender Inciarte posted a message on X directed at Disney Cruise Line. Writing in English, Ender Inciarte said he enjoyed the cruise overall but disliked seeing “a man dressed as a woman” onboard. He added that he believed Disney should have moved past such displays.Ender Inciarte did not clarify whether the person was a crew member or a guest. Still, the post spread fast and led to hours of replies. Many users accused him of being hateful. He responded later in Spanish, saying his words were not an attack. “It was an opinion based on my convictions,” he wrote. “I believe in respecting everyone, but also in saying what I feel without mockery.”In another reply, Ender Inciarte brought his family into the discussion. He said, “All I am saying is having my kid enter a place where a six-foot-tall guy is dressed as a woman and acting like one would traumatize my kid on a family cruise.” He added that he did not want that behavior to feel normal to his child.

When one user told him to “go to hell,” Ender Inciarte answered, “No. I’ve been saved from that thanks to Jesus.”

Not all reactions were negative. Payton McNabb publicly backed Ender Inciarte. She replied to his post with the words, “That’s my center fielder.” Payton McNabb has been vocal in past debates about transgender participation in sports after she said she suffered serious injuries during a volleyball match.As of Thursday, Disney has not released a public response. Media outlets, including the Daily Mail, confirmed that Disney representatives were contacted for comment.Disney has a long history of gender-disguised characters in films, dating back decades. Examples include the 1973 animated film Robin Hood and later movies like Mulan. In the past, the business has also been under public pressure for its LGBT+ policies; protests at Disney World in the 1990s are examples.Ender Inciarte, now 35, last played in MLB in 2022. He won three Gold Gloves, made the 2017 All-Star team, and is married to former Miss Universe Stefanía Fernández and the couple has one son.Also Read: Alec Bohm and Erin Dolan’s Combined Net Worth in 2025: MLB salary, ESPN earnings, endorsements, and more