Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III said he was trying to defend WNBA superstar Angel Reese from racist harassment when he took to social media on Thursday. Instead, he started a feud.
Griffin responded to an X post that portrayed Reese, who is Black, as a monkey on the cover of the NBA 2K26 video game. The original post was ostensibly created by someone who thought Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who is White, better deserved to be the game’s cover.
“There is no place for racism in this world,” Griffin, who is Black, wrote. “Whether you like a player or not. Angel Reese should never be called or depicted as a Monkey.”
But the Heisman Trophy winner went on to say that the rivalry between Reese and Clark was fueled by the former’s disdain for the latter. The two are regularly compared, with Clark given the bulk of the credit for surging interest in the WNBA.
“People in Angel’s inner circle called me and told me I was right and Angel Reese has grown to hate Caitlin Clark because of the media always asking her about Caitlin and being constantly compared to her,” Griffin wrote. “Some people made it about race, but I never did and never will.”
Reese responded quickly.
She denied the claim that anyone close to her reached out to Griffin, who started a podcast with his wife after losing his job with ESPN last year.
“Lying on this app when everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work,” the two-time WNBA All-Star wrote on X.
Griffin stood by his claim despite criticisms from Reese’s mother, who is also named Angel Reese.
“U is not in her circle 2 speak on her feelings towards a media/fandom made up beef,” the elder Reese wrote. “Just stay on that side bc the doors are closed over here.”