Former NBA star Charles Barkley was accused by Axios reporter Alexi McCammond of making inappropriate remarks while the two discussed 2020 presidential contenders.
“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,'” McCammond tweeted Tuesday night. “There are almost no times I will beak an OTR [off the record] ‘agreement’ but this is not OK.”
The reporter added, “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.”
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
Here’s a pic (albeit dark and blurry) if you need more. pic.twitter.com/Ad32cMemiv
— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) November 20, 2019
The NBA Hall of Famer has made controversial comments regarding violence towards women before. In 1990, Barkley was forced to apologize for telling reporters after a win, “This is a game that if you lose, you go home and beat your wife and kids. Did you see my wife jumping up and down at the end of the game? That’s because she knew I wasn’t going to beat her.”
McCammond said she did not like being “part of the story” but wanted to vocalize what happened to her because of the number of women each year who get physically abused.
“It’s not about me or my feelings,” she said. “But it’s about refusing to allow this culture to perpetuate because of silence on these issues. It’s easier and less awkward to be silent, but that helps NO ONE but the perpetrator.”
UPDATE: Turner Sports PR released a statement on behalf of Charles Barkley: “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
UPDATE 2: Turner Sports PR told the Washington Examiner in a statement: “Charles’ comments were unacceptable and he has issued an apology.” He will still be on the network NBA on TNT Thursday night.
