When ESPN hired Pat McAfee and made him the network’s highest-paid personality, it was a move that was met with intense criticism — especially as established journalists simultaneously lost their jobs at ESPN. In the year since, McAfee has done little to calm those concerns.
Monday’s edition of the Pat McAfee Show was yet another example of ESPN embracing the worst of sports commentary.
McAfee — who played eight seasons for the Colts and lives in Indianapolis — dedicated a portion of his show towards discussing Indiana Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark and the media coverage this year’s rookie class has received. But in doing so, he chose to simply focus on Clark being white. The entire discussion went off the rails quickly. (Warning: Strong language in the video)
Monday's Pat McAfee Show opened with a Caitlin Clark PowerPoint:
"I would like the media people that continue to say, 'This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class'. Nah, just call it for what it is — there's one white bitch for the Indiana team who is a superstar." pic.twitter.com/psGNQXts5O
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2024
McAfee said:
“Just call it for what it is: There’s one white (expletive) for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”
Like, what are we doing here? McAfee has faced backlash for paying guests, spreading false information and letting Aaron Rodgers spew conspiracies on ESPN airwaves. And judging from these remarks, he hasn’t taken any warning from ESPN brass to heart.
Update: McAfee tweeted that he apologized to Clark for the remarks.
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
Fans were justifiably upset with McAfee’s comments on Monday. There’s no place for that on ESPN … or anywhere, really.
This was how Twitter reacted
https://t.co/4qr9fazaHf pic.twitter.com/PAU0DltO4G
— Nick Tuths (@NickTuths) June 3, 2024
Beyond unacceptable. https://t.co/L2R6JMOKQd
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) June 3, 2024
Yooooooo this is where we are at??? I’m so confused… https://t.co/qh5QBv44An
— Cari Champion (@CariChampion) June 3, 2024
watching this person stack money while repeatedly saying the worst things i have ever heard on the biggest sports network in the country makes me miserable! https://t.co/aQnf9QLMqz
— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) June 3, 2024
This clip, language aside, shows just how woefully underprepared someone like McAfee is to discuss this. "She took a program from nothing"…Iowa made the NCAA tournament 10 of the 12 years *before* Caitlin Clark arrived, and the Elite Eight the year before she walked on campus! https://t.co/yQtKKdXF6g
— Bradford Pearson (@BradfordPearson) June 3, 2024
Can’t have normal dialogue about any sports.
Everything is cooked. https://t.co/z2phkKPSfL
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) 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
