Rusty Weiss
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has sided with WNBA star Angel Reese during a recent episode of her “IMO” podcast, backing the Atlanta Dream forward’s reluctance to engage with the media.
Reese stated she would rather accept fines than face reporters who she feels don’t give her a fair shake. It’s a sentiment Obama has repeatedly endorsed.
“The media has not always been great for me. And I’ll take a fine. I’ll catch a fine, especially in the WNBA. I’ll have a fine before I have to go to media and feel like my back is against the wall,” Reese said.
Under the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, players must make themselves available to the media after games, with violations potentially resulting in fines up to $10,000.
“You are handling yourself beautifully. I mean, it’s not just what you do, but the way you carry yourself, girl. I mean, it is really a joy to watch you manage it all, and you do it with a smile on your face with an excellent attitude,” Obama told her. “You are a special, special person.”
Michelle Obama Endorses Angel Reese’s Choice to Pay Fines and Avoid Media Scrutiny
During an August podcast, Mrs. Obama commented on the media frenzy surrounding Reese and her rivalry with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.
“I think the tough thing is the social media element to it. But that’s true across the board. I mean, we’ve talked about this on our show; it just takes a normal occurrence,” Obama agreed. “These young kids today, what they have to go through, what they have to be able to withstand, because social media is such a huge part of the world.”
The former First Lady pointed a finger at today’s 24/7 social media presence.
“There’s the hate. But now the hate is in your room, on your phone with you all the time. And you can’t, for whatever reason, tell these kids to turn it off, because they’re making their living that way,” she said. “I mean, now they are expected to stay engaged.”
“So, I think that makes it feel even worse. But I think, as you point out, that’s happening in sports across gender. It’s just harder not to withstand other people’s horrible, horrible opinions.”
Reese expressed gratitude to Obama and her brother, co-host Craig Robinson, for creating a welcoming environment on the podcast.
“I really appreciate you guys for allowing me to come on here, and this feel like a safe space. And one of the safest spaces that it’s been in a very, very long time for me,” she said.
Take that in for a minute. She will intentionally take a fine to avoid reporters asking maybe some difficult questions, but she’s okay with running to a little-watched podcast’s “safe space.”
Obama has previously been vocal about issues in sports media, including a pointed critique of ESPN. On her podcast with her brother, she compared the network’s programming to that of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She criticized the network’s evolution into what she described as a platform filled with yelling, screaming, and forced drama.
“It’s the same drama, and they’re yelling at each other, and they don’t get along, you know? I mean, Stephen A. Smith, he’s just like every other talk show host,” she said.
SAS catching strays even in conversations he’s not a part of. Incredible.
“So that’s why I’m like, ‘what’s the difference?’ It’s just, you know, it’s just sociological drama,” added Obama. “I mean, the fact that people over seasons of working still can’t get along. They still have the same arguments, you know, and it’s not just women.”
“But this happens in sports, too. I find it fascinating.”
That’s what ESPN is, though. Fabricated entertainment to get clicks and views. Nothing more, nothing less. Reese, if we’re being fair, does the same exact thing with her own social media and commentary about WNBA fans.
