McAfee said he was initially surprised by the criticism, which he learned about after the show.
“When I was saying it, I legitimately meant it in a complimentary fashion, like ‘[Clark] is the one,’ ” said McAfee, who had Clark as an in-studio guest on his show last month. “As I said it, I didn’t even think it through. Honestly, I had no idea what was happening on the internet until 2½ hours later, and then I realized, and I started reading through a lot of comments that were being said. I felt like actually the worst human on Earth for a good portion of my travels yesterday … even into this morning from things that people were saying, going, ‘Damn, those were not my intentions, but that’s how you took it.’ That’s on me. I do apologize.”
McAfee said he apologized to Clark through the Fever’s PR department.
“[I] got a message back that she said it was all good, no blood, we move forward, and she appreciates us reaching out and apologizing, so that obviously makes me feel a little bit better,” McAfee said. “But to the people that got pissed off yesterday and offended, I understand. I learned a lot.”
McAfee stood by the message of Monday’s segment, however, which is that Clark is primarily responsible for increased interest in the WNBA this season.
“I would like the media people that continue to say, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class,’ ” McAfee said. “Nah. There’s one White b—- for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”
Former ESPN host Jemele Hill called McAfee’s comment “totally unacceptable.” ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins said McAfee owed everyone an apology, especially Clark.
“You cannot call her out of her name like that,” Perkins said. “No one can come to his defense.”
McAfee first apologized on social media Monday afternoon.
“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. Everything else I said … still alllllll facts.”
McAfee is no stranger to controversy, and ESPN executives knew what they were getting when they agreed in May 2023 to license the outspoken, tank top-wearing former YouTube star’s show to help the network appeal to a younger audience. In October, McAfee, who reportedly earns $15 million per year, expressed disgust about his bosses at ESPN after the New York Post published a story saying McAfee has paid star quarterback Aaron Rodgers more than $1 million over the years to appear on his show.
In January, during one of his regular appearances on the show, Rodgers made inferences alleging a connection between late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel and serial abuser Jeffrey Epstein. Around that time, McAfee accused his bosses of leaking false viewership information about his show to the media.
“There are folks actively trying to sabotage us from within ESPN,” McAfee said. “More specifically, I believe [ESPN executive] Norby Williamson is the guy attempting to sabotage our program.”
Williamson left the network in April after nearly 40 years.
