Pat McAfee Apologizes For Referring To Caitlin Clark As A ‘White B*tch’ On ESPN
Pat McAfee has apologized for referring to Caitlin Clark as a "white b*tch" during Monday's episode of ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show.
McAfee opened his show with a monologue supporting the Indiana Fever star and slamming critics for saying her race is the only reason for her overwhelming popularity.
"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-tch for the Indiana team who is a superstar," said McAfee, who is an outspoken fan of the Fever and has been spotted at games.
McAfee went on to describe Clark's skill and accomplishments as the reasons she has brought the WNBA droves of new fans and unprecedented media coverage.
"But instead, we have to hear people say we only like her because she’s white. And she’s only popular because the rest of the rookie class is doing what they’re doing," McAfee said. "That’s a bunch of bullsh-t, and we think the WNBA, more specifically their refs, need to stop trying to screw her over at every single turn. What you have is somebody special, and we’re lucky she’s here in Indiana."
Pat McAfee Offers Very Rare Apology
McAfee was referring to an incident on Saturday when Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter gave Clark a hard hip check, knocking her to the ground. Just before she slammed into her, Carter can be seen calling the Fever rookie a "b-tch."
READ: Sky Coach Teresa Witherspoon Condemns Chennedy Carter's Cheap Shot On Caitlin Clark
Even given that context, though, McAfee caught plenty of flak for his word choice. Fellow ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins publicly called on McAfee to say he's sorry.
"Pat McAfee, I think he owes everyone an apology, especially Caitlin Clark," Perkins said while on-air. "At the end of the day, you have to respect the WNBA, respect the women that are playing, respect the women covering the game ... if you are a man that's jumping into that atmosphere."
Former ESPN host Jemele Hill — one of the race-baiters McAfee was referring to in his rant — also called him out on X.
"Referring to Caitlin Clark as ‘the white bitch for Indiana.’ That’s beyond being too comfortable. Just totally unacceptable," she wrote.
And even Pat McAfee must have realized the verbiage was inappropriate. Because the ESPN host known for being unapologetic took to social media to do exactly that: apologize
"I shouldn’t have used ‘white b-tch’ 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," McAfee wrote on X.
"My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize… I have sent an apology to Caitlin as well."
He then added: "Everything else I said… still alllllll facts."
It's worth noting that you can count on one hand the amount of times McAfee has expressed remorse for anything — the Aaron Rodgers / Jimmy Kimmel incident and his public intoxication arrest while he played in the NFL are the only McAfee apologies that even come up in a Google search.
He didn't even apologize for criticizing his ESPN bosses live on his ESPN show earlier this year. So it's safe to say McAfee is well aware that he crossed a line this time, and he owned up to it.
Turns out, calling a female athlete a "b-tch" on TV just doesn't go over well — no matter how good your intentions are.