Former NFL All-Pro wide receiver and current internet provocateur Antonio Brown sparked backlash after sharing a slew of abusive tweets about Caitlin Clark.
The WNBA top-pick quickly blocked Brown for his antics, with his tweet about how Clark ‘looks like she keep it hairy’ causing particular offense.
But the receiver didn’t let up, also calling her his ‘Cracker of the Day’ and ‘Cousin It’ – a nod to an Addams Family character.
It’s far from the first time that Brown has been blocked for unpleasant remarks – with legendary quarterback Tom Brady and President Joe Biden restricting the ex-Pittsburgh Steeler from their timelines.
Clark has grappled with several controversies since she rose to stardom during March Madness, including an awkward encounter with a reporter at her opening press conference just hours before Brown’s online onslaught.
Caitlin Clark has blocked Antonio Brown after the former NFL star sent a slew of offensive jokes her way on social media
Clark has had to deal with plenty of weird comments after this week’s WNBA Draft – including during her introductory press conference on Wednesday afternoon
Caitlin Clark is caught in ‘gross’ exchange with ‘sexist pervert’
Caitlin Clark looks like she keep it hairy.
— AB (@AB84) April 18, 2024
It came amid Clark’s media frenzy following her first overall draft pick by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft on Monday night.
During her opening press conference, Indy Star Sports reporter Gregg Doyel imitated the former Iowa star’s heart-hands gesture before saying: ‘Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.’
The quip sparked outrage online as Barstool Sports boss Dave Portnoy branded him a ‘sexist pervert’ – leading Doyel to apologize for the suggestive exchange.
‘Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature [hand heart emoji,’ Doyel groveled to Twitter on Wednesday.
‘My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.’
Just hours after the press conference went viral, Brown decided to wade in with his own unsavory remarks about the WNBA rising star.
He followed his outrageous tweet about Clark being ‘hairy’ by spoofing her new Nike sponsorship deal, which he said could be followed by a ‘razor deal with ManScaped.’
‘She look like she bout to sign the Declaration of Independence,’ he said in another tweet.
Despite becoming embroiled in controversy since she became the new WNBA ‘it girl’, there’s been positives this week too – with Clark signing a massive deal with Nike
Brown has seen himself blocked by a number of high-profile celebrities since his career ended, as he often takes to Twitter to unleash unsavory jokes
She look like she bout to sign the Declaration of Independence #CTESPN https://t.co/VUXeLubf6K
— AB (@AB84) April 18, 2024
Nike Shoe prototype released #CTESPN https://t.co/tRC357wsoY pic.twitter.com/kgQIKCfdEg
— AB (@AB84) April 18, 2024
Cracker of the Day #CTESPN
Blocked by Cousin It 💈 pic.twitter.com/niS6YA0845
— AB (@AB84) April 18, 2024
Despite becoming embroiled in controversy since she became the new WNBA ‘it girl’, Clark has also enjoyed several wins.
Most notably, this includes the revelation that she’s set to sign an eight-figure deal with Nike that will land her a signature shoe.
Brown couldn’t resist chiming in following the news of Clark’s Nike deal, as he shared a picture of a fuzzy Nike trainer captioned ‘Caitlin Clark’s Hair Force Ones.’
Clark will be the third active WNBA player with their own signature shoe, joining Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty.
President Joe Biden even spoke highly of Clark, and added that the $76,535 salary she’ll earn in her first year in the league is an example of how ‘women are not paid their fair share.’
The basketball phenom has also made a number of appearances on popular podcasts and talk shows, including joking about becoming a weekly guest on the Pat McAffee Show as part of her preparation to move to Indiana.
Despite controversy surrounding Clark’s meagre salary compared to her male counterparts, she still appears set for a fortune.
Before she went pro, the six-foot guard had a net worth of $3.4 million, according to On3Sports.
But now that she can operate her brand outside of NIL parameters, Clark can expand her existing partnerships with companies including Gatorade, State Farm and Buick.
Clark was mobbed by fans and media during Monday’s WNBA Draft as the top overall selection
Clark and McCaffery have been dating for nearly a year after both played basketball at Iowa
Clark has also expressed an interest in playing for United States Olympic team in Paris this summer.
The WNBA will take a sabbatical during the 2024 Summer Olympics, as many of the league’s top talent will receive national-team call-ups.
There is precedent for star players being called up to the US Olympic roster in their first WNBA seasons. Breanna Stewart was on the 2016 team and Candace Parker played for the Americans in 2008.
