Charles Barkley Galveston Photo Credit: Joseph Scott Elliott via X
By Arthur Weinstein on

Charles Barkley set out Monday night to clarify his recent joke-gone-terribly-wrong comments about the city of Galveston, Texas.

It may be too late, because some prominent Galveston residents fired back at Barkley as the bizarre tiff between the two sides continues.

Barkley set things in motion Saturday on TNT’s post-game show by joking that the New Orleans Pelicans should be punished this offseason by sending them to Galveston. Barkley knows the area from visits during his time with the Houston Rockets.

“Galveston — that dirty a** water,” Barkley said. “We’re sending they a** to Galveston, Texas, right where that dirty water washed up on the beach. They can’t even get in no water.”

The blowback came immediately, including some from a surprising source: music superstar Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles. Barkley apologized on-air to her Sunday.

One would think that would be enough to put Barkley’s unfortunate joke to rest, but the people of Galveston were not in a forgiving mood Monday. Galveston city council member David Collins told Houston Public Media, “Mr. Barkley used the phrase ‘dirty water washed up on the beach. If anyone understands being washed up, it would be Mr. Barkley.”

Barkley went on TNT’s NBA Tip-Off show Monday night to address the issue yet again, although he doubled down on his “dirty beaches” stance.

“I had a great time in the local hangouts when we played there … You just can’t go to the beach,” Barkley said. “Everybody was great to me in Galveston. But your beach was dirty as hell!”


Barkley’s TNT colleagues didn’t make his situation any easier, pointing out a tweet Monday from a Galveston resident. The tweet showed Barkley in a local bike shop, smiling and holding a bike.

“This is Barkley enjoying the bike shop in Galveston. I guess it wasn’t so bad,” the tweeted noted.


TNT also showed a sign from a Galveston entertainment venue with the message, Don’t be a shady beach Charles Barkley.

It’s not the first time Barkley has ruffled feathers after his comments about a Texas city. He’s made many comments through the years joking about “big, ol’, fat women” in San Antonio.

Barkley has probably learned his lesson about talking literal trash about cities.

[@awfulannouncing; Photo Credit: Joseph Scott Elliott via X]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.

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