Brian Spurlock/AP
Pat McAfee has come under fire for calling Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark a “White bitch” during The Pat McAfee Show on Monday.
McAfee opened the show by jumping into the conversation surrounding Clark and Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter. The two were briefly involved in a tense moment when Clark elbowed Carter and then Carter shoved Clark to the floor.
Since then, a narrative has been pushed by some members of the media that players are jealous of Clark and taking their frustration out on her. McAfee instead chose to focus on the media members who have credited the league’s rise in popularity to the entire 2024 draft class. According to him, it’s all because of Clark.
“Nah, just call it for what it is,” McAfee said on his show. “There’s one White bitch for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”
Countless others called out their colleague for his description of Clark.
What in the entire fuck is this? https://t.co/9HvKX3bIeI
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 3, 2024
ESPN made the editorial choice to pivot sports coverage away from reporting and toward hot takery. Now when a nuanced subject requires the former they have a roster of loudmouths only interested in the latter. The W deserves better https://t.co/fHMB8ngwbv
— Astead (@AsteadWH) June 3, 2024
ESPN laid off 20 people to give Pat McAfee $17 million a year to produce a show geared towards people who have been asked to leave a Chili’s on more than one occasion. https://t.co/lp2wdy9FWR
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) June 3, 2024
It’s daunting to see the types of people who have this type of national platform get up there and spew shit like this to millions of people. There are so many capable people covering the W who actually deserve this type of audience, and these guys use it to do this. What a joke https://t.co/jjOwRI0R1C
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) June 3, 2024
This is what happens when sports journalists, with training, and standards and editors, are constantly replaced by talking heads and influencers whose primary goal, frankly ONLY goal, is to attract eyeballs. https://t.co/jMTl0m8fHZ
— Dr. Jason Johnson (@DrJasonJohnson) June 3, 2024
Thinking about all the talented journalists @ESPN has laid off in the past few years so they could pay Pat McAfee $17 million to call Caitlin Clark, one of the biggest female sports stars, a bitch.
It’s not funny. It’s not cute. What is wrong with the people at @espn + @Disney? https://t.co/DQTxuYDne6
— Ali Donaldson (@AliCDonaldson) June 3, 2024
Pat: “white b*tch”
Austin: “girls” referring to adult WNBA players
Stephen A: “what about black men” in response to the plight of black womenWhy are these professionals struggling with HOW to respectfully discuss women? These are HUGE platforms this language is being used on!
— Ros Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) June 3, 2024
Are the men okay? pic.twitter.com/ciHzk19K2K
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) June 3, 2024
In response to the backlash, McAfee apologized and said his intentions were to be “complimentary.”
I shouldn’t have used “white bitch” as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark. No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening.. I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe.
My intentions when saying… pic.twitter.com/F6OHB4gvYh
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 3, 2024
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