Pat McAfee has long stuck to his guns, being unapologetic for who he is and the words uttered on his program.
But Monday saw him distance himself from that approach. And his apology came after he referred to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark as “one white b—- who is a superstar.” That was all part of a 10-minute rant in which he went off on unnamed WNBA players and media, explaining why Clark is the only superstar in this year’s rookie class while calling her a “cash cow,”
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
Awful Announcing’s Robert O’Neill had more:
“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 b—- for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”
While McAfee was defending Clark’s importance to the league, calling a female athlete a b—- is way over the line regardless of context.
McAfee then continued ranting against unnamed critics and WNBA referees who ‘try to screw Clark over at every turn.’
After those remarks, McAfee felt it was appropriate to explain himself, which he rarely does. He shared that he shouldn’t have used the aforementioned descriptive terms for Clark as a descriptor, no matter the context and that he was too much responsible for her and women to put that into the universe.
He explained that while his intentions were complimentary, he understood why they didn’t come across that way. He also acknowledged apologizing to Clark, who has appeared on his Indinapolis-based show numerous times.
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
It remains to be seen if McAfee’s apology will be enough to mend fences with the WNBA community and Clark herself. Only time will tell if he can learn from this and continue to advocate for the WNBA while using respectful language to all athletes.
