Businessman and media personality LaVar Ball fired back at critics who slammed him for allegedly making an “inappropriate” remark to a female ESPN host.
Ball was adamant that his remarks were not “sexual in nature” though he was quickly condemned by even ESPN for a comment he made during the network’s “First Take” on Monday.
LaVar shooting his shot at Molly Qerim during First Take interview? Jalen Rose gonna bust him up lol pic.twitter.com/HeIB9CFIxH
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) June 17, 2019
Host Molly Qerim tried to rein in the head of the Big Baller Brand who was discussing the trade deal that involved Anthony Davis and his son, Lonzo Ball, who was sent from the L.A. Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans.
“LaVar, can I switch gears with you because I have a question here,” Querim said at one point during the segment.
“You can switch gears with me anytime,” Ball replied, causing the ESPN host to raise her eyebrows, and suggest, “let’s stay focused here.”
The segment set off an avalanche of backlash.
“Kudos to Molly [Qerim] for the professional way she handled LaVar Ball after his inappropriate comment. Maybe ESPN will have finally learned its lesson about putting him on TV,” former ESPN host and current writer for the Atlantic magazine, Jemele Hill, tweeted.
Kudos to Molly Querim for the professional way she handled LaVar Ball after his inappropriate comment. Maybe ESPN will have finally learned its lesson about putting him on TV.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 17, 2019
Ball did not appear to realize his choice of words could be construed by the thought police to mean something other than what he may have intended. And Querim did not draw any more attention to it after her wide-eyed facial expression.
However, she did seem to make a comment at the end of the show that could have alluded to the segment with Ball.
“If anyone’s calling HR today, it’s me,” she quipped.
Molly Qerim jokes about calling HR after awkward exchange with LaVar Ball pic.twitter.com/4NMhhyBFxd
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) June 17, 2019
ESPN called out Ball over his comment and said he was made “aware” of its inappropriateness.
“LaVar Ball’s comment to Molly Qerim Rose was completely inappropriate and we made him aware of that,” the statement read, according to Larry Brown Sports.
But Ball’s representative asserted that “at NO time” was his comment intended the way critics were claiming.
“[LaVar] was asked if he wanted to switch gears, in his mind switching gears was ‘changing the subject anytime’ and he said, ‘yes, you can switch gears with me anytime.’ At NO time was that intended or meant to be sexual in nature,” Denise White said in a statement, TMZ reported.
Hill’s Twitter feed read like a perfect example of how the debate unfolded on social media, with many countering the accusation against Barr.
He clowns around with everyone and she took it that way. She went there not him. It was awkward bc her reaction to it.
— JamakeComedy (@Jamake0602) June 17, 2019
And we need to stop saying people being sensitive just for checking behavior. Somebody else might watch that and think it’s cool to flirt with Molly on air because LaVar did it. Sometimes y’all have a real blindspot to the situation you put women in.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 17, 2019
I normally agree 100% with what you say and post but not this one. Molly took it there…
— Dominique Hamilton (@Underrated_Dom) June 17, 2019
Twitter users pushed back against Hill’s narrative, noting how Ball “wasn’t smirking or anything.”
I don’t believe the way he said it was sexual, trust me I’m always in agreement. It even shows his face after and he wasn’t smirking or anything.
That mans a character but i don’t think he took it there. Especially in today’s climate, he can’t be that dumb.
I could be wrong.
— Dominique Hamilton (@Underrated_Dom) June 17, 2019
No!!!! Her reaction was her reaction, which doesn’t make it his reality. For the same reason I believe Because it was Lavar Ball now y’all have to have this reaction!!
— Ken thompson (@kenthompson612) June 17, 2019
I didn’t think he was trying to be inappropriate at all, he repeated exactly what she said, how is that inappropriate, you pushing it sister !!
— Dirty Danky (@NOLA_Danky) June 17, 2019
Molly:”Lavar Can I switch gears with you”
Lavar: “You can switch gears with me anytime”
This is what upsets people? #SoftSociety
— Knicks Clicks (@KnicksClicksNYK) June 17, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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