Charles Barkley accused of threatening to hit female reporter
NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is being accused of threatening to hit a female reporter after she asked him who he is supporting for president.
Alexi McCammond, a reporter for Axios, accused Barkley of saying, “I don’t hit women but if I did I would hit you.” McCammond made the allegation on Twitter Tuesday night.
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
McCammond said Barkley made the remark while speaking off the record, but said she published his comment regardless:
I hate being part of a story so here’s a reminder that this is so much bigger than me: nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the US. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence https://t.co/eqgn0McbYt https://t.co/nll7a0rv2o
— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) November 20, 2019
It’s not about me or my feelings — tho I’m grateful for the many friends who have reached out. 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.
— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) November 20, 2019
McCammond was questioning Barkley about his support of newly announced Democratic presidential contender Deval Patrick, the former governor of Massachusetts. Barkley had previously supported South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is one of 10 candidates in Atlanta on Wednesday for the fifth Democratic presidential debate being held at Tyler Perry Studios.
Here is the statement from Barkley, which was released by Turner Sports:
Statement on behalf of Charles Barkley in response to tweet by Axios reporter Alexi McCammond:
— TurnerSportsPR (@TurnerSportsPR) November 20, 2019
“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.”
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