Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Quinta Brunson seemingly called out Pat McAfee for his previous comments about WNBA star Caitlin Clark and they definitely called out NFL player Harrison Butker during the 2024 ESPY Awards. Serena, who hosted the award show, was joined by Venus and Quinta on stage for a special segment celebrating this year's rise in popularity of women's sports, thanks in part to Clark.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00Venus and Serena Williams and Quinta Brunson seemingly called out Pat McAfee for his previous
00:04comments about WNBA star Kaitlyn Clark, and they definitely called out NFL player Harrison
00:09Buckker during the 2024 ESPY Awards.
00:13Serena, who hosted the awards show, was joined by Venus and Quinta on stage for a special
00:18segment celebrating this year's rise in popularity of women's sports, thanks in part to Clark.
00:23The trio reviewed a list of terms that are acceptable when referring to female athletes,
00:27including competitor and champion.
00:28The moment was seemingly a reference to when
00:37ESPN commentator McAfee used that word last month while talking about Clark.
00:41McAfee later apologized on social media.
00:44He wrote in part,
00:45"'My intentions when saying it were complimentary, just like the entire segment, but a lot of
00:49folks are saying that it certainly wasn't at all.
00:52That's 100% on me and for that I apologize.'"
00:55Serena, Venus, and Brunson also called out Kansas City Chiefs kicker Buckker, who came
00:59under massive fire this year for a commencement speech where he condemned the LGBTQ plus community
01:04and told female graduates,
01:05"'I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who
01:09have had the most diabolical lies told to you.
01:12Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess
01:16that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will
01:19bring into this world.'"
01:20So go ahead and enjoy women's sports like you would any other sports because they are
01:26sports.
01:27Except you, Harrison Bucker, we don't need you.
01:31Bucker was somewhere in the audience, though his reaction was not shown.
01:34Elsewhere during the ESPYs, Prince Harry accepted the Pat Tillman Award in recognition of the
01:3810th anniversary of his Invictus Games, after Tillman's mother, Mary, spoke out against
01:43the decision to honor him.
01:44During his speech, Harry acknowledged the Tillman family, including Mary.
01:48I'd also like to acknowledge the Tillman family, especially Mrs. Mary Tillman, Pat's mother.
01:54Her advocacy for Pat's legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect.
02:00He went on to say,
02:01"'I stand here not as Prince Harry Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf
02:05of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over
02:1120 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality.
02:16This award belongs to them.'"
02:19For much more on the 2024 ESPY Awards, head to THR.com.
02:23This is The Hollywood Reporter News.