NBA legend slammed for 'unacceptable' joke about hitting woman
Charles Barkley has issued an apology for a comment he made to a female political reporter about hitting her.
Axios reporter Alexi McCammond wrote on Twitter Tuesday night that when she questioned Barkley on his indecisiveness over the Democratic presidential hopefuls, Barkley told her 'I don't hit women but if I did I would hit you.'
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McCammond says when she objected to his remarks, Barkley told her she 'couldn't take a joke.'
Barkley, a former NBA player who works as a basketball analyst for TNT's Inside the NBA, issued an apology on Wednesday through TurnerSportsPR on Twitter saying his comment was 'inappropriate and unacceptable.'
Barkley said in the statement that “it was an attempted joke that wasn't funny at all.”
“There's no excuse for it and I apologise.”
Swift backlash after ‘out of line’ comment
Despite Barkley’s swift apology, the former NBA MVP’s attempt at humour was not looked on favourably on social media.
Many basketball fans said it was time for Barkley to realise jokes about domestic violence weren’t appropriate in this day and age.
Charles Barkley has said far more awful things, but then again Black Face was acceptable not that long ago and it's not anymore. STOP JOKING ABOUT HITTING AND HURTING WOMEN. https://t.co/S8wXDOYYB9
— Xilla Valentine (@BlogXilla) November 20, 2019
Re: Charles Barkley...The world is changing. Things that were viewed as "harmless jokes" are not being viewed the same way anymore. Either you adapt or you find yourself in a PR catastrophe. I believe he meant no harm, but he caused harm, and should know better.
— Michael Dunlap (@DunlapSports) November 20, 2019
I somehow missed what Charles Barkley said to the female reporter and joke or not, it's totally inappropriate. I've been struck by a man and I would NEVER take that kind of "joke" lightly. Glad to see he's apologized though
— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) November 21, 2019
I don’t believe Charles Barkley when he says that he was joking, unless he thinks somehow that violence against women is funny. Respect women in the first place and you won’t have to worry about whether you’ll tell an inappropriate joke about hitting them. https://t.co/Jc2vGU8QrX
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) November 20, 2019
Ben Simmons hits first career three-pointer
Aussie Ben Simmons has sent the internet into meltdown after sinking his first three-pointer for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Simmons is notorious for the massive hole in his game and worked tirelessly on his shooting from beyond the line in the off-season and fans have been waiting to see when he would take the plunge and go for a three-pointer this season.
But against the New York Knicks the 76ers point guard was set up in the corner after Furkan Korkmaz, running the offence from the top of the key, delivered a bounce pass to Simmons as the shot clock ticked under 10 seconds.
Q: What can't he do?
A: Nothing. The answer is nothing.@BenSimmons25 | #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/vRIGAB1nyp— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 21, 2019
Simmons, standing wide open — because why would anybody bother guarding him there? — caught the pass and immediately launched a shot from beyond the 3-point line.
Social media went into meltdown after the groundbreaking moment with many excited of the prospect of more shots from beyond the arc.
WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
