Pat McAfee has been slammed and forced to apologise for a controversial comment about WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, referring to her as a “white bitch” on his podcast.
The former NFL star, who has become one of sport’s most successful broadcasters, was discussing the rise of the Indiana Fever rookie over the past few months.
McAfee was explaining why the current rookie class is centred around the 22-year-old out of Iowa State and in doing so, dropped an ugly line in reference to Clark.
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“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,” he said on The Pat McAfee Show.
Caitlin Clark in action for the Indiana Fever. Getty
“Is there a chance that people just enjoy watching her play basketball? Instead, we have to hear people say that we only like her because she’s white and she’s only popular because of the rest of the rookie class. That’s a bunch of bullshit.
“We think the WNBA – more specifically their refs – need to stop trying to screw her over. What you have is somebody special and we’re lucky she’s here in Indiana.”
McAfee would receive plenty of backlash on social media after his comments
Fox News journalist Sean Hannity also took exception to McAfee’s comments.
“He’s still a jackass and a buffoon and a horrible host,” he said.
“McAfee’s biggest problem – I’ll tell you what it is – his ego cannot handle living in the shadows of the far more popular, way more talented Stephen A. Smith.”
After plenty of criticism, McAfee owned up to his poor choice of words and issued a statement via X after his live show went off the air.
Hours later during his WWE commitments on the Monday Night Raw broadcast, McAfee would refer to wrestler Braun Strowman as a “big, white son of a bitch” and his co-commentator Michael Cole also made reference to the controversy.
Clark has become the biggest attraction in the WNBA this year after making the jump from college basketball, bringing new eyes to the women’s competition.