Pat McAfee apologized on social media on Monday for calling Caitlin Clark a “white bitch” on his show, “The Pat McAfee Show,” earlier that day.
McAfee wasn’t trying to insult Clark with his comments, and began his show by talking about Clark’s rise to superstar status in the WNBA after the controversial weekend.
However, McAfee received criticism for referring to Clark in this way and took to X to clarify his comments.
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Pat McAfee began Monday’s show with a segment talking about Caitlin Clark and how the WNBA is a “cash cow” thanks to her superstardom. (Getty Images)
“I should never have described Caitlin Clark as a ‘white bitch,'” McAfee wrote. “I have too much respect for her and the women in this room to say something like that, regardless of context, even if we’re talking about race being the cause of some of the events.”
“When I said it, like that whole piece, I meant it as a compliment, but a lot of people have said that was never the case. It’s 100% my fault and I apologize for that… I’ve also sent an email to Caitlyn apologizing.”
“Everything I said… is all true.”
Pat McAfee has called Caitlin Clark a “white bitch” and slammed critics who have said her popularity is due to her race.
Clark and the WNBA were hot topics on Monday morning sports talk shows, but “The Pat McAfee Show” took it to another level, creating a slideshow of the former NFL kicker and his staff members expressing their thoughts on critics who say Clark is a superstar because she’s a white woman in the league.
“It’s unfortunate when people in the media keep saying, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class.’ No, tell it like it is. They’ve got one superstar white girl on that Indiana team,” said McAfee, who has invited Clark onto his show and attended Fever games because of his position at Indiana.
“Is it because she stayed at Iowa and carried the entire state on her shoulders? Is it because she took the program from nothing to a multi-year success story? Is it because she broke every scoring record in Iowa history? NCAANot just the women’s records of Kelsey Plum, but also “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s records. Men’s records too. Is it possible that people enjoy watching her play basketball because of how inspiring she is? What does she stand for and how does she accomplish it? Probably.
Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark (No. 22) reacts during the second half of a game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 30, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“But instead we have to hear people say we like her because she’s white, that she’s popular because other rookies are doing it. That’s complete nonsense. I think the WNBA, and especially the referees, need to stop trying to gloss over her at every turn. We have a special player here and we’re lucky to have her in Indiana.”
One person who took issue with McAfee’s “white dude” comment was his ESPN colleague Kendrick Perkins, who made similar comments on “NBA Today.”
“I think Pat McAfee owes everybody an apology, especially to Caitlin Clark. He can’t call her names like that. Nobody can defend him, it’s not acceptable. At the end of the day, you’ve got to respect the WNBA, you’ve got to respect the women that play, you’ve got to respect the women that cover the game. And if you’re a guy that’s going to jump into that atmosphere, you’ve got to do it in a great way.”
Perkins began her comments by calling out some WNBA players, including Charles Barkley and LeBron James, for using words like “hate” and “jealous” to describe how they feel about Clark, calling it “inflammatory language for women.”
“I have to work harder on that and they have to work harder on that because it’s not hate or jealousy, it’s competition,” Perkins said.
Controversy has flared since Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter hip-checked Clark during Saturday’s game against the Fever, leading to the WNBA upgrading the foul to a Flagrant 1 after a review. Some have called for the WNBA to step in, while others believe Clark should not be “spoiled” as a rookie.
Pat McAfee speaks at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center ahead of Super Bowl 55 in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 8, 2024. (Candice Ward/Getty Images)
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This comes just 11 games into Clark’s rookie year with Indiana after being selected No. 1 overall last month, but media coverage will continue to be a focus throughout the 2024 season.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverage,subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
Scott Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital.
Pat McAfee walks backs ‘white b—-’ comment about Caitlin Clark: ‘I have way too much respect for her’
Pat McAfee apologized on social media on Monday for calling Caitlin Clark a “white bitch” on his show, “The Pat McAfee Show,” earlier that day.
McAfee wasn’t trying to insult Clark with his comments, and began his show by talking about Clark’s rise to superstar status in the WNBA after the controversial weekend.
However, McAfee received criticism for referring to Clark in this way and took to X to clarify his comments.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Pat McAfee began Monday’s show with a segment talking about Caitlin Clark and how the WNBA is a “cash cow” thanks to her superstardom. (Getty Images)
“I should never have described Caitlin Clark as a ‘white bitch,'” McAfee wrote. “I have too much respect for her and the women in this room to say something like that, regardless of context, even if we’re talking about race being the cause of some of the events.”
“When I said it, like that whole piece, I meant it as a compliment, but a lot of people have said that was never the case. It’s 100% my fault and I apologize for that… I’ve also sent an email to Caitlyn apologizing.”
“Everything I said… is all true.”
Pat McAfee has called Caitlin Clark a “white bitch” and slammed critics who have said her popularity is due to her race.
Clark and the WNBA were hot topics on Monday morning sports talk shows, but “The Pat McAfee Show” took it to another level, creating a slideshow of the former NFL kicker and his staff members expressing their thoughts on critics who say Clark is a superstar because she’s a white woman in the league.
“It’s unfortunate when people in the media keep saying, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class.’ No, tell it like it is. They’ve got one superstar white girl on that Indiana team,” said McAfee, who has invited Clark onto his show and attended Fever games because of his position at Indiana.
“Is it because she stayed at Iowa and carried the entire state on her shoulders? Is it because she took the program from nothing to a multi-year success story? Is it because she broke every scoring record in Iowa history? NCAANot just the women’s records of Kelsey Plum, but also “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s records. Men’s records too. Is it possible that people enjoy watching her play basketball because of how inspiring she is? What does she stand for and how does she accomplish it? Probably.
Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark (No. 22) reacts during the second half of a game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 30, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“But instead we have to hear people say we like her because she’s white, that she’s popular because other rookies are doing it. That’s complete nonsense. I think the WNBA, and especially the referees, need to stop trying to gloss over her at every turn. We have a special player here and we’re lucky to have her in Indiana.”
One person who took issue with McAfee’s “white dude” comment was his ESPN colleague Kendrick Perkins, who made similar comments on “NBA Today.”
“I think Pat McAfee owes everybody an apology, especially to Caitlin Clark. He can’t call her names like that. Nobody can defend him, it’s not acceptable. At the end of the day, you’ve got to respect the WNBA, you’ve got to respect the women that play, you’ve got to respect the women that cover the game. And if you’re a guy that’s going to jump into that atmosphere, you’ve got to do it in a great way.”
Perkins began her comments by calling out some WNBA players, including Charles Barkley and LeBron James, for using words like “hate” and “jealous” to describe how they feel about Clark, calling it “inflammatory language for women.”
“I have to work harder on that and they have to work harder on that because it’s not hate or jealousy, it’s competition,” Perkins said.
Controversy has flared since Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter hip-checked Clark during Saturday’s game against the Fever, leading to the WNBA upgrading the foul to a Flagrant 1 after a review. Some have called for the WNBA to step in, while others believe Clark should not be “spoiled” as a rookie.
Pat McAfee speaks at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center ahead of Super Bowl 55 in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 8, 2024. (Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Click here to get the FOX News app
This comes just 11 games into Clark’s rookie year with Indiana after being selected No. 1 overall last month, but media coverage will continue to be a focus throughout the 2024 season.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverage,subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
Scott Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital.
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