Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III is speaking out after WNBA star Angel Reese became the target of a racist social media post.
The offensive image, which photoshopped a monkey face onto Reese, began circulating online shortly after she was featured on the cover of NBA 2K26, sparking widespread backlash across the sports world.
Griffin didn’t hold back in condemning the post.
“Alright. This has got to stop. There is no place for racism in this world. Whether you like a player or not. Angel Reese should never be called or depicted as a monkey,” he wrote on Twitter.
His strong response quickly gained traction, with many praising Griffin for calling out the racism so clearly.
He emphasized that personal opinions about an athlete’s performance should never cross into dehumanizing or hateful territory.
Fallout and friction with Reese‘s camp
However, Griffin‘s defense of Reese comes amid some lingering tension between the two.
Reese recently posted a cryptic message many interpreted as a response to Griffin’s previous commentary on her rumored dislike of fellow WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark.
“Lying on this app when everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work,” Reese posted.
Though she didn’t name Griffin directly, the timing of her message, which followed his public defense, made the target of her frustration clear.
The friction dates back to Griffin weighing in on fan narratives that pitted Reese and Clark against each other, particularly after Reese was named an NBA 2K26 cover athlete.
Reese‘s mother, Angel Reese Sr., also joined the conversation by questioning Griffin’s credibility.
“Man stop with the cap,” she replied to his post.
“My daughter’s ‘circle’ is so small and tight so I’d be interested to know who called [you]. Whomever you said ‘called’ you is not in her circle to speak on her feelings.”
Despite the interpersonal drama, Griffin‘s central point remains: racism, particularly against black women in sports, must be addressed and condemned.
His willingness to defend Reese, even amid strained relations, speaks to a broader truth in the sports world: criticism of an athlete should never slide into hate or racial abuse.
Angel Reese has faced intense scrutiny since her rise to stardom in college and now in the WNBA.
While rivalries and hot takes are part of the game, the line was clearly crossed with the racist image.
Griffin‘s response, and the public reaction to it, is a reminder of the responsibility media figures and fans share in pushing back against this kind of behavior.
As Reese continues to make her mark on the court and off, how her supporters and critics navigate that space will continue to shape not just her legacy, but the culture of the sport itself.
Read the full article here
