Although Pat McAfee is known for his comedic personality, his humor can sometimes cross the line.
He joined ESPN amidst a wave of layoffs and signed a lucrative five-year, $85 million deal, which garnered attention for all the wrong reasons.
On a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, his colleague Evan Fox shared a picture of the Michigan State football team wearing questionable uniforms.
I still can’t believe Michigan State thought it was ok to roll out these uniforms pic.twitter.com/VvRrRRF4Qk
— Evan Fox (@evanfoxy) July 30, 2023
McAfee then commented that disgraced former Spartans sports doctor Larry Nassar was involved in designing them.
I think Nassar was in on the design team actually
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 30, 2023
This remark immediately drew criticism and backlash.
When I prayed on Pat McAfee’s downfall I didn’t expect it to come from a “joke” about sexual assault on 265 women including kids https://t.co/zhy3PMhzis
— Molly (@FSUmollz) July 30, 2023
You can take the man out of barstool but you can’t take the barstool out of a man https://t.co/lVKmL0felV
— OsamaBinDabo (tonesetter) (@RyanDay2Hell) July 30, 2023
I can't wait for the next classic entry in the series of Pat McAfee non-apologies https://t.co/xBhd2VEvIp
— ?sports tweeter Matthias? (tonesetter) (@KryzivenTake2) July 30, 2023
Pretty dope how we’re never gonna hear Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mike Breen together ever again so ESPN could let this guy yell cuzzo at us https://t.co/8flGrhsFha
— WBR (@W_B_Rick) July 30, 2023
ESPN has laid off numerous, legitimate, longtime journalists… and spent tens of millions on a guy who thinks it’s funny to joke about sexual assault. Everything wrong with modern media is summed up here. https://t.co/SU2og2bNQi
— Nick LaFave (@NickLaFave) July 30, 2023
Just insane that this tweet hasn’t been deleted yet https://t.co/W0EwReaHOP
— Greg Waddell (@gwizzy12) July 30, 2023
he’s doubling down on this? he really retweeted his own tweet? https://t.co/RN12kx6PsP pic.twitter.com/FSUcRnW0xB
— brady (@hoosiercommish) July 30, 2023
You know what, fuck @PatMcAfeeShow.
Proper ESPN boy comment. If @evanfoxy was a friend he’d tell Pat that this is fucked up. https://t.co/69Wjz02DM3
— Cedar Village Bagel (@CVBagel) July 30, 2023
As you may know, Nassar was convicted for sexually assaulting numerous gymnasts and possessing child pornography.
He was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison.
With McAfee’s controversial remarks, people are questioning how he will fit in at ESPN and whether he will maintain the same freedom he enjoyed as an independent podcaster.
Despite ESPN’s endorsement of him through a significant contract, it remains to be seen how the network will respond to this controversy.
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