Pat McAfee on social media on Monday, apologized for calling Caitlin Clark a “white b—-b” on his “The Pat McAfee Show.”
McAfee wasn’t disrespecting Clarke when he made the comment, as he talked about her superstar status at the beginning of his show. WNBA After a controversial weekend.
However, McAfee faced strong criticism for referring to Clark in this way, and he posted on Instagram to clarify his statement.
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Pat McAfee opened his show Monday with a piece about Caitlin Clark, and how the WNBA has a “cash cow” because of her superstardom. (Getty Images)
“I should never have used the term ‘white b—-‘ towards Caitlin Clark,” McPhee wrote. “”No matter the context … even if we’re talking about race there is a reason for what is happening … I have too much respect for her and women in general to not put this out into the universe.
“My intention when I said it was to be complimentary, like the whole segment, but a lot of people are saying it wasn’t complimentary at all. It’s completely my fault and for that I apologize… I’ve sent an apology to Kaitlyn as well.
“Everything else I said … is still all facts.”
Clark and the WNBA were the hottest topic for sports talk shows Monday morning, but “The Pat McAfee Show” took it to a whole different level when the former NFL kicker and her crew created an entire slideshow explaining what they think of Clark’s critics who say she’s only a superstar because she’s a white woman in the league.
“I would love for people in the media to keep saying, ‘It’s the new class, it’s the new class, it’s the new class.’ No, just call it what it is — there’s a white player for an Indiana team who is a superstar,” said McAfee, who has had Clark on his show and seen her at Fever games because of her status in Indiana.
“Is it because she stayed in Iowa and took over the entire state? Turned a program from zero into a multi-year success story? Is it because she broke all the scoring records in history NCAA?Not just Kelsey Plum’s female record – shout out – but ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich’s. Dude’s records too. Is there a chance that people like watching her play basketball just because of how awesome she is? What she stood for, how she went about doing what she did? Maybe.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever reacts during the second half of the game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 30, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“But instead, we have to listen to people say that we only like her because she’s white. And that she’s only popular because the rest of the new players are doing what they’re doing. This is bulls—, and we think the WNBA, and especially their referees, should stop trying to cheat her every time. You have someone special, and we’re lucky she’s in Indiana.”
One of those who took offense to McAfee’s “white b—-” comment was his ESPN colleague Kendrick Perkins, who spoke out on “NBA Today.”
“Pat McAfee, I think he should apologize to everybody, especially Caitlin Clark. You can’t call her out on it like that. Nobody can come to her defense, and that’s unacceptable. At the end of the day, you have to respect the WNBA, respect the women who play, respect the women who cover the game, and if you’re a man jumping into that environment, you have to do it gracefully.”
Perkins began his remarks by pointing to Charles Barkley and others. Lebron JamesWhen talking about some WNBA players’ feelings about Clark, she used words like “hate” and “jealousy,” which she called “provocative words for women.”
“You’ve got to do a better job at it, they’ve got to do a better job at it, because it’s not hate, and it’s not jealousy. It’s competition,” Perkins said.
This has been a debate since Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter hip-checked Clark in Saturday’s match with the Fever, causing the WNBA to upgrade the foul to a Flagrant-1 violation after a review. Some have said the WNBA should intervene, while others believe Clark should not be “treated like a child” as a rookie.
Pat McAfee speaks at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on February 08, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Candice Ward/Getty Images)
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It’s just 11 games into Clark’s freshman year at Indiana after being selected first overall last month, but media coverage will be closely watched during the 2024 campaign.
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