A recent public exchange between civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, Bernice King, and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III has added a new dimension to the ongoing narrative surrounding WNBA stars Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. The dispute centers on Griffin’s claims about Reese’s alleged animosity towards Clark, prompting a call for more constructive dialogue.
The controversy ignited when Robert Griffin III, a former ESPN analyst who recently joined Fox Sports for college football coverage (Wikipedia), asserted on social media that someone from Chicago Sky star Angel Reese’s “inner circle” had informed him that Reese “hates” Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark. This claim, published on July 12, 2025, by the New York Post, stemmed from a heated on-court skirmish between the two WNBA rookies in May.
Griffin, a Heisman Trophy winner and 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (Pro-Football-Reference), defended his comments by stating he was also speaking out against a racist image of Reese that appeared on an NBA 2K26 cover. He emphasized that there is “no place for racism in the world” and that Reese “should never be called or depicted as a monkey.” He clarified that his initial remarks were purely sports-related and not racially motivated, despite some interpretations.
Angel Reese swiftly refuted Griffin’s assertion, posting on social media, “lying on this app when everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work.” Her mother echoed this sentiment, stating that whoever Griffin claimed to have spoken with was “not in her circle 2 speak on her feelings towards a media/fandom made up beef.”
The public back-and-forth caught the attention of Bernice King, CEO of The King Center and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Responding to Griffin’s post about building bridges and finding unity through dialogue, King offered a direct suggestion: “I agree. That’s why I suggest you call Angel Reese and stop posting about her.” Reese herself shared a user’s post referencing King’s intervention, which read, “When MLK daughter gotta tell you to shut tf up talking about Angel.”
Griffin, however, fired back at the criticism, asserting that he spoke up against racism and would not allow anyone to “twist the truth just because it’s inconvenient to them.” He reiterated his claim, stating, “They calling me and saying you hate Caitlin Clark, not the other way around. I have zero interest in being the villain in anyone’s story. I just want to have fun, tell the truth and celebrate sports. But I won’t pretend or lie just to protect feelings.”
This incident highlights the intense scrutiny and public discourse surrounding the WNBA’s rising stars, particularly the dynamic between Reese and Clark. Robert Griffin III, who was notably fired from ESPN on August 15, 2024, before joining Fox Sports, has maintained a prominent media presence, including his podcast “RG3 and The Ones” (Spotify). The involvement of a figure like Bernice King underscores the broader societal implications that can arise from sports rivalries, particularly when they spill over into public accusations and social media commentary.
