New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo found himself in hot water after his controversial comments regarding chronic traumatic encephalopathy, better known as CTE during an appearance on the “Bring the Juice with Frank Dalena” podcast.
Skattebo downplayed the risks of CTE, which the Mayo Clinic describes as a degenerative brain disease likely caused by repeated head injuries. The running back claimed both CTE and asthma were “excuses.”
“No, it’s an excuse,” he said when asked about CTE before later adding, "Yeah. That's a good take. Asthma is fake. Just literally breathe air."
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Skattebo eventually issued an apology for his “tasteless” joke.
"I recently did an interview and had a lapse in judgment, which resulted in me making a tasteless joke about CTE and asthma," Skattebo posted. "It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma. I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my remarks, and I assure you that I'll be more mindful and respectful going forward. MUCH LOVE."
Skattebo’s mother, Becky, took to social media to suggest the Giants running back was being sarcastic with his comments about asthma, something she intimated he suffers from.
“If only people knew how many times cam had to “run and get mom’s inhaler” they’d realize the sarcasm…you’ll never make everyone happy and you’ll never say all the right things and people are bound to spin something sooner or later in a direction it was never intended to go,” she said on social media.
The Giants have not commented on the polarizing comments from their young running back.
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