Pat McAfee slammed Fox Sports analyst Skip Bayless during Wednesday night’s ESPYs for his insensitive tweet following Damar Hamlin’s collapse in January.
After Hamlin collapsed from cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game on Jan. 2, the game was suspended, but Bayless bizarrely questioned the decision to postpone the game.
The tweet sparked backlash from fans, athletes and sports personalities, including Bayless’ former Undisputed co-host Shannon Sharpe, who left the show at the end of the NBA Finals.
And McAfee, who reportedly recently signed an $85 million deal with ESPN, slammed his new Fox rival for not deleting a post on Wednesday night’s ESPYs.
“This year we saw one of the most inspiring things in human history.” “Ladies and gentlemen, Damar Hamlin is here tonight,” McAfee said, drawing applause.
Pat McAfee slammed Fox Sports analyst Skip Bayless during Wednesday’s ESPYs
The podcast host mocked Bayless for his insensitive tweet after Damar Hamlin’s breakdown
“We’ve all been watching the situation on Monday Night Football as Joe Buck and Troy Aikman tried to settle down and we all back home feared the absolute worst – and Skip Bayless was like, ‘Get that body off the field, we did.’ “Playoff implications are at stake!” McAfee said, imitating a Southern drawl.
“He said so, the tweet is still online #deletethetweet Skip come on,” he continued.
Hamlin attended Wednesday’s sports awards ceremony and broke down in tears as he presented the Bills’ coaching staff with the ESPY Award for Service after they saved his life.
McAfee went on to commend the Buffalo Bills coaching staff for bringing Hamlin back to life on the field, calling the safety “absolute bullshit.”
“As we watched, we saw something we never expected,” McAfee continued.
“Denny Kellington and the Buffalo Bills coaching staff, the paramedics, the doctors at the hospital, the teammates and Damar Hamlin’s will to survive is what keeps him here tonight, playing football here and back, and running faster than ever.” Absolute buddy!’
But the podcast host couldn’t resist a final dig at Bayless, adding, “I still don’t think Skip should have tweeted about Damar, I think that was a little insensitive.”
Bayless faced a storm of controversy with his tweet after Hamlin collapsed on the field during the Bills’ Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how?” Bayless tweeted as medical staff attended to Hamlin at Paycor Stadium.
Bayless’s offensive tweet came as Hamlin was being resuscitated on the lawn of Paycor Stadium
McAfee hailed Hamlin, who attended Wednesday’s event, as an “absolute idiot.”
“So late in the season, a game of this magnitude is critical to the outcome of the regular season…which suddenly seems so irrelevant.”
The outspoken presenter has faced calls to be fired from Fox Sports from both current NFL and NBA players and retired pro athletes.
I hope they fire you bro!!! “It’s very sad that you’re even thinking about the game,” tweeted NBA star Isaish Thomas.
“We need to cancel @RealSkipBayless ASAP!!!” shared NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant.
New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner also said, “Are you seriously discussing when the football game should be rescheduled?” Damar Hamlin’s health is ALL that matters right now! Nothing else!!!’
“You’re a despicable old man. Shame on you,” tweeted former NFL tight end Alex Homes, who had brief stints with the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006.
The backlash forced Bayless to apologize on social media and Undisputed the following day.
“Let me first say that if it offends anyone, I apologize for what we’ve set out to do here today, because we’re going to try to do the show like we normally do,” said the 71 -year-old Bayless, who joined Fox Sports in 2016 after 12 years as an ESPN pundit.
“But I will first admit that what happened to Damar Hamlin last night still shakes me. In fact, I’m still devastated. In fact, I’m not sure I’m capable of doing this show today.”
Bayless was forced to deliver his apology alone on air as co-host Sharpe was noticeably absent following his partner’s tweet.
Bayless’ tweet sparked a backlash as athletes called on Fox Sports to sack the Undisputed presenter
Sharpe returned the next day, but the couple got into a furious argument over Bayless’ refusal to delete the tweet.
Sharpe, a former NFL tight end, couldn’t get through his monologue without being interrupted by the morose Bayless.
“Skip tweeted something and while I disagreed with the tweet, hopefully Skip will take it down,” Sharpe said before Bayless intervened.
“Time out,” Bayless said. “I won’t remove it because I stand by what I tweeted.”