A recent comment made by Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews has sparked frustration after an outlet took her words out of context, creating an unnecessary controversy. Andrews, who co-hosts the Calm Down podcast with fellow sports reporter Charissa Thompson, found herself at the center of a clickbait headline after joking about New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
On a recent episode of their podcast, Andrews humorously discussed Rodgers not stopping by Thompson’s desk for an interview following the Jets’ Thursday Night Football victory over the New England Patriots.
Andrews playfully referred to Rodgers’ absence as “rude,” though it was clear she was joking and referencing the friendly relationship between the trio. However, that nuance was lost when other outlets picked up the story.
One particular outlet, Us Weekly, shared the story on Instagram with a headline that appeared to sensationalize Andrews’ comments. The post read: “Erin Andrews called out Aaron Rodgers for snubbing her podcast cohost Charissa Thompson from an interview after his recent #Jets victory. See what she revealed about the post-game etiquette—and why she felt this specific instance was rude—at the link in bio.”
Andrews was quick to react, taking to her Instagram Story to set the record straight and accuse Us Weekly of using clickbait tactics. She expressed her disappointment that her lighthearted and sarcastic tone had been lost in translation. “HOLY CLICKBAIT!” she wrote. “But let’s not include how I was laughing, being sarcastic, & telling funny stories abt our friendship. The only thing ‘rude & personal’ is the headline #calmdown.”
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Her frustration highlights a common issue in media today: the tendency for headlines to be taken out of context, often omitting the tone, humor, or subtleties of the original conversation. In this case, what was meant as a playful comment between friends was turned into a headline that suggested genuine criticism.
Andrews’ Instagram Story made it clear that her remarks were in jest and that the narrative created by Us Weekly was not only inaccurate but also misleading to readers. It’s a reminder of how easily stories can be manipulated when context, such as laughter and tone, is left out of the equation.
It remains to be seen if Us Weekly will address Andrews’ response or amend their post to more accurately reflect her comments. For now, Andrews has taken the opportunity to call out the dangers of clickbait, showing that even lighthearted banter can be misconstrued when taken out of context.
