Charles Barkley Apologizes for “Unacceptable” Comments Towards Female Reporter




Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Barkley made the comments at an event on Tuesday night while discussing the upcoming election.
On Tuesday night, Charles Barkley received backlash for making offensive comments towards Axios reporter Alexi McCammond.
According to McCammond, after members of South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s campaign staff entered the room, McCammond noted Barkley had expressed support for both Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick and Buttigieg. According to McCammond, Barkley replied, “I don’t hit women, but if I did I would hit you.” When she objected Barkley replied that she “couldn’t take a joke.”
Just FYI Charles Barkley told me tonight “I don’t hit women but if I did I would hit you,” and then when I objected to that he told me I “couldn’t take a joke.”
— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) November 20, 2019
There are almost no times I will beak an OTR “agreement” but this is not OK. And it was all because he came in talking about how he loves Deval Patrick and once someone from Pete‘s campaign came around he said he loved Pete and I reminded him he previously said he was a Deval fan
— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) November 20, 2019
Here’s a pic (albeit dark and blurry) if you need more. pic.twitter.com/Ad32cMemiv
— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) November 20, 2019
McCammond went on to post a picture from the event. Subsequently, Barkley issued a statement via Turner Sports’ Public Relations account. “My comment was inappropriate and unacceptable. It was an attempted joke that wasn’t funny at all. There’s no excuse for it and I apologize.”
Statement on behalf of Charles Barkley in response to tweet by Axios reporter Alexi McCammond:
“My comment was inappropriate and unacceptable. It was an attempted joke that wasn’t funny at all. There’s no excuse for it and I apologize.”
— TurnerSportsPR (@TurnerSportsPR) November 20, 2019
H/T: Philly Voice