Jason Whitlock has taken a strong stance against ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, accusing him of “making a deal with the devil” after Orlovsky deleted a tweet in the midst of the ongoing gender controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. The controversy erupted when Khelif, who won a gold medal, faced scrutiny over her participation in women’s boxing after reportedly failing gender eligibility tests in 2023.
Prominent figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and JK Rowling were among those who criticized Khelif’s involvement in the women’s category.
Amid the heated debate, Orlovsky posted a tweet that simply read, “protect our daughters.” However, the former NFL quarterback later removed the tweet and offered an explanation during an interview with Barrett Media. “When you’re an employee of a big company, your social media page doesn’t just get to be your social media page,” Orlovsky said. “That’s a fantasy, so you have to represent yourself and the company that you work for in the proper way.”
Whitlock, a former ESPN employee himself, didn’t hold back in his critique of Orlovsky’s decision to delete the tweet. He lambasted the analyst for choosing to remain silent rather than standing by his original statement, accusing him of compromising his values for the sake of his career. Whitlock argued that Orlovsky’s actions are emblematic of a broader issue he sees across corporate America, where men are increasingly reluctant to express their true beliefs out of fear of losing their jobs or jeopardizing their livelihoods.
“You weren’t a great player in the NFL… but you made some money in the NFL, you could do other things,” Whitlock said, addressing Orlovsky directly. “He has a wife to answer to, kids to look after, he wants to provide for his wife and kids and family and he says: ‘I’m going to make a deal with the devil, I’m going to conceal my world view. I’m going to conceal it while I collect these checks and dollars.’ And men are making this compromise all across America. All across corporate America.”
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Whitlock’s comments come on the heels of ESPN’s decision to part ways with Sam Ponder and Robert Griffin III, both of whom had expressed their views on the Khelif situation, though from different perspectives. Ponder had notably taken to social media to voice her opinion, posting: “XY= male XX= female.” The departures of Ponder and Griffin have further fueled Whitlock’s criticisms of the network and the broader media landscape.
In his scathing remarks, Whitlock also accused Orlovsky and other sports analysts of silently enduring what he perceives as an influx of “unqualified, unprepared women” being elevated to high-profile roles within sports media. “They know these things we’ve instituted are wrong. They celebrate Pride day and whatever LGBTQ awareness day, they sit and watch with gritted teeth as unqualified, unprepared women come in and displace them in the workplace,” Whitlock continued. “You see it all over ESPN. And it’s all over corporate America—women that look good but haven’t paid their dues.”
Whitlock specifically called out ESPN personalities Malika Andrews, host of NBA Today, and her sister Kendra Andrews, who covers the Golden State Warriors, suggesting that they secured their positions with minimal qualifications. “They’re watching and they’re biting their tongue. They can’t say anything about it and people like me are the bad guys because I raise my hand and say something about it—that this whole diversity and equity and inclusion deal is a joke. And all these jobs we’re handing out so we’ll look the part is diminishing corporations and diminishing the product. Everyone is getting a degraded product and conduct because of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Whitlock’s tirade against Orlovsky and the broader media landscape reflects his longstanding critique of what he views as the negative impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives.
His comments have sparked further debate about free speech, corporate influence, and the evolving role of media in addressing complex social issues.
