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Pat McAfee catches heat for controversial word choice while praising Caitlin Clark
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Pat McAfee is a big believer in what Caitlin Clark is doing in the WNBA. However, he ignited a bit of controversy even while defending the former Iowa star and rookie for the Indiana Fever.
During Monday’s broadcast of “The Pat McAfee Show,” McAfee made the case that it is Clark alone lifting up the exposure for the WNBA while certain media members are trying to make the story about the entire rookie class. However, in doing so, McAfee referred to Clark as “one white bitch” which is an odd choice, to say the least.
“I would like the media people that continue to say ‘This rookie class, this rookie class’ — nah. Just call it for what it is. There’s one white bitch for Indiana who is a superstar,” said McAfee.
“Is it because she stayed in Iowa, took a program from nothing to multiple years success story? Is it because she would go on to break the entire points record in the NCAA, not just the women’s record, but also Pistol Pete Maravich’s?”
The host was indeed complimentary of Clark, saying a lot of people just enjoy watching the former Hawkeye and her electrifying style. He also labeled it “bulls–” that some people try to claim certain fans only care about Clark because she’s white or that Clark’s popularity is only related to the rest of the rookie class.
“Is there a chance people just enjoy watching her because of how electrifying she is, what she did, what she stood for, how she went about doing what she went for? Maybe. But, instead, we have to only hear about people say that we only like her because she’s white and she’s only popular because the rest of the rookie class is doing what it’s doing,” claimed McAfee.
Here is the full clip (warning that some language is NSFW):
That was Guess Which WNBA Rookie#PMSLive #Journalism https://t.co/c3qhIbrk2e pic.twitter.com/SrQwC3Ejpv
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 3, 2024
Reaction to McAfee
McAfee does not shy away from coarse language during his show. This time, that particular language directed at Clark — even with positive comments attached to it — was not well-received by most fans.
Here’s what the reaction across social media looked like:
This is crazy. 😳
Pat McAfee was UNHINGED discussing Caitlin Clark and the WNBA on-air. pic.twitter.com/GFgyj334ZV
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 3, 2024
Is it possible to just be a Caitlin Clark fan and be upset that a player took a cheap shot at her without it turning into a think piece or a seven-tweet thread or the usual suspects making an a– of themselves on national TV?
(… I’m being told no).
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) June 3, 2024
I usually don’t watch Pat McAfee, but I wanted to hear what Adam Schefter had to say about the Justin Jefferson deal.
Then I heard this about Caitlin Clark… I can’t believe he said this. pic.twitter.com/RJXzpqL32r
— Reggie Wilson (@ReggieWilsonTV) June 3, 2024
Unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable. https://t.co/oWMKFcJa3L
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) 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
Not a single man in that room told Pat McAfee, who openly called Caitlin Clark a “white b****” on national television, that he was wrong – that he shouldn’t speak about Caitlin or any woman like that.
What is EVEN happening?
We’re cool with that…all for him to prove a point?
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) June 3, 2024
Pat McAfee wants everyone to give Clark this unprecedented respect for what she’s doing for women’s basketball and he can’t even respect her enough to not call her a bitch on live tv
— It Is What It Is (@ParagonDon605) June 3, 2024
The only white bitch here is Pat McAfee https://t.co/cu9lfOxk5E
— Molly (@FSUmollz) June 3, 2024
it got wild before 1 et on espn today didn’t it https://t.co/4PxLMLCdeL
— bomani (@bomani_jones) June 3, 2024
Beyond unacceptable. https://t.co/L2R6JMOKQd
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) 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
Among other things here, what a stray at Iowa, a perpetual Sweet 16-type program that had an NPOY just a few years ago. “from nothing.” That’s not true lol https://t.co/xmCqCpRH5S
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) June 3, 2024
https://t.co/SNb7dTPwHq pic.twitter.com/Vac2skRiiX
— sean yoo (@SeanYoo) June 3, 2024
This is just completely unacceptable. Interested to see how ESPN handles it.
And his entire argument is not conducive to anything going on in the #WNBA right now.
Just let the women hoop. https://t.co/n0AFHFMegY
— Kim Adams (@_kimadams) June 3, 2024
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.