Earlier this summer, Pat McAfee found himself at the center of controversy following remarks he made about WNBA star Caitlin Clark. During an attempt to praise Clark for her significant role in the growth of women’s sports, McAfee made an offhand comment, referring to Clark as a “white [expletive].” The remark quickly drew backlash, leading McAfee to largely avoid mentioning Clark on his show in the aftermath.
However, Clark’s name resurfaced during a conversation between McAfee and fellow sports broadcaster Rich Eisen on Wednesday. Reflecting on the earlier incident, McAfee admitted that he had made a mistake. He remarked, “The universe told me not to talk about her,” adding that he was “an idiot” for his previous comments about Clark.
Following the episode, McAfee took to social media to clarify his position on the matter. Responding to a tweet that claimed ESPN had forced him to stop discussing Clark, McAfee set the record straight. “I said ‘God’ and the ‘universe’ told me to stop talking about it… that was through me saying something that inevitably always caused full chaos. It wasn’t great for my life or for the program,” McAfee explained. He also emphasized that ESPN has no control over the content of his show, dismissing the rumors as baseless.
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McAfee’s statements indicate that the fallout from his comments on Clark led to some personal reflection. He seems to have recognized the need to be more cautious when discussing certain topics on his show, especially those that could spark controversy.
Interestingly, Caitlin Clark had appeared on The Pat McAfee Show earlier in the year and even expressed interest in becoming a recurring guest, similar to how NFL star Aaron Rodgers has been. McAfee, who lives and records his show in Indiana, has shown his support for Clark by attending Indiana Fever games this season.
Despite the misstep in his earlier remarks, it’s clear that McAfee holds respect for Clark and her accomplishments in the WNBA.
As the dust settles from this incident, it remains to be seen whether Clark and McAfee might collaborate again on his show in the future. If they do, it could be an opportunity for both to address the situation and move forward positively.
