Fox Sports analyst Robert Griffin III has responded to ESPN analyst Ryan Clark’s comments about his marriage.
On Monday’s episode of The Pivot podcast, Clark targeted RG3 over the former NFL quarterback’s opinions regarding the altercation between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese during Saturday’s Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game. Specifically, Clark took issue with RG3’s current and past marriages, both with white women.
“When RG3 jumps onto the hate train or the angry train, it now follows what we saw from Keith Olbermann, what we saw from Dave Portnoy, as they poured onto Angel Reese to make her the villain, and Caitlin Clark heroic or hero story,” Clark said. “The one thing we know about RG3 is he’s not having conversations at his home about what Black women have to endure in this country. About what young Black women and athletes like Angel Reese have had to deal with being on the opposite side of Caitlin Clark’s rise and ascension into stardom.
“If you’re RG3, when is the last time within your household you’ve had a conversation about what [Angel Reese is] dealing with?” Clark continued. “You haven’t been able to do that because in both of your marriages, you’ve been married to white women.”
Monday evening, RG3 issued a lengthy response on social media.
“There’s a line you don’t cross in life and Ryan Clark sprinted past it.
“Ryan Clark didn’t like my take on Angel Reese hating Caitlin Clark. That’s fine. Disagreement is part of the game. But instead of debating my point, he personally attacked me and my family. That shows how low of person he is.
“I gave a sports opinion: I said Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark, based on repeated, visible actions on the court and in press conferences. I backed it up with five separate examples from the game of basketball because that’s what I do. I analyze sports. I stay in the arena.
“Just because Angel Reese is Black doesn’t mean that her game and actions can not be critiqued.
“A Black man or woman is not restricted from giving a sports opinion on another Black man or woman just because you don’t like it.
“Everyone can give their opinion on everyone no matter what color they are.
“We’ve got to be better in this space. Debate the game. Don’t play with people’s families. Because if you need to cross that line and attack the person and their family instead of the point just to win an argument, then you already lost.
“Ryan Clark said I don’t understand the struggles of Black women because I’m married to a white woman. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.
“He suggested I don’t value my wife as the woman I love, protect and raise a family with but only value her because of the color of her skin. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.
“He implied that he, a man who has never sat at our dinner table, values my wife and knows my marriage better than I do. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.
“He dismissed my Blackness because I have a different opinion about Angel Reese than he does. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.
“He claimed that I’m not having conversations about the struggles of Black women in my own home because my wife is white. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.
“We also raise Black daughters together and don’t teach them to hate people or disqualify their opinions based on the color of their skin.
“He claimed that I want to appeal to a certain audience. The only audience I’m focused on is the audience of one, God. I support all people, not some people.
“My support is not based on the color of someone’s skin, but the content of their character.
“My sports opinions are not based on the color of someone’s skin, but from what I see and my experience as a player and analyst.
“Let me be clear. It is wildly inappropriate, wrong and extremely low to weaponize and attack a person’s wife, marriage and their family because you disagree with a sports take.
“I didn’t make it personal with Angel Reese. I didn’t drag her family. I didn’t question her soul. I spoke about basketball.
“But Ryan? You crossed the line. You made it personal and some.
“There should be no space in Sports Media for personal attacks and wives and children are alway [sic] off limits. You attacked me and my family in a public forum on a level that shows how low of a person you are.
“Disagree with me all you want. Challenge my take. But keep my family and wife out of it. That’s a boundary that should always be respected.
“Ryan Clark personally attacking me and my family personally over a sports opinion is cowardly, spineless, and weak.
“Ryan Clark personally attacking me and my family personally over a sports opinion is a bad look for ESPN and for him as a man.”
Interestingly, in the last line of his statement, RG3 mentions Clark’s statement being a “bad look for ESPN.” While Clark’s comments towards RG3 were made on his own podcast, outside of ESPN platforms, the former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back holds a prominent role on ESPN, making frequent appearances on the network’s studio shows.
Clark wasted no time in responding to RG3’s social media post with one of his own.
“Bruh you know what it is with me and you! I saved you the entire season on MNF. I urged people to let you be you. No matter how corny, how bad a teammate you were I had your back. What did you do? Invite someone on your show you know I don’t fool with to ask questions about me, and then hit me weeks later to tell me you’re gonna challenge one of my takes! You’re a phony bro. One of the worst teammates I ever had both on the field and in TV. You gotta do what you gotta do.
“I didn’t attack your wife. I spoke on what you do on social media and Tv. Like I said. I met your wife and she seemed like a lovely lady that was worth more than the color of her skin! You be good bruh.”
Based on Clark’s response, it seems that there’s a lot more to this beef than we know.
No matter which side of the debate, the rift between Clark and RG3 has officially entered territory beyond sports.