Overview
- Caitlin Clark appeared as a walkout guest at Morgan Wallen’s Indianapolis concert after the Indiana Fever’s season opener, and video of the moment drew heavy criticism online.
- Critics point to Wallen’s 2021 video using a racial slur, which led to a label suspension and an apology, and say a star in a league built by many Black women should avoid that association.
- Jemele Hill pushed back on her Flagrant and Funny podcast, urging people not to police others’ entertainment choices and saying no one passes the strict standards being applied here.
- Defenders note that high-profile athletes have joined Wallen on stage and that WNBA figures have attended concerts by artists with troubled histories, with far less outrage in those cases.
- Some commentators warn the flap could distract Clark from her rookie season, noting her poor three-point shooting in the loss to Dallas and urging her to keep the focus on her play.