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Charles Barkley is not backing down after his viral comments about Cardi B during the NBA Finals sparked outrage online. In fact, the basketball analyst says he would welcome the fallout, even joking that he hopes ESPN fires him.
The sports personality addressed the controversy during Wednesday’s episode of “The Dan Patrick Show,” where he made it clear he has no regrets over the joke that divided fans following Cardi B’s halftime performance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Charles Barkley Says He’d Love To Be Fired
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Barkley did not appear concerned about potential repercussions from ESPN after his comments about Cardi B’s appearance went viral.
Instead, the former NBA star joked that losing his job might actually work in his favor. “You know, I’m hoping they fire me,” Barkley said. “I got six or seven years left on my contract that they know I’ve got no chance of doing. I would love for them to fire and have to pay me for the next six or seven years.”
According to Barkley, no executives at the network approached him about the controversy. Still, he acknowledged the backlash swirling online.
Barkley Tells Critics To ‘Kiss My A-s’
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Rather than apologize, Barkley doubled down on his stance and dismissed critics upset by the remarks. “People can’t take a joke?” he questioned. “They can kiss my *ss. I appreciate all the support I’ve gotten all these years, but if anybody thinks like them, they’re a fool.”
He added, “So if people don’t like me or don’t have a sense of humor, they can kiss my *ss.”
The controversy erupted after Barkley commented on Cardi B’s appearance during her halftime performance at Monday’s New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs matchup at Madison Square Garden.
The Grammy-winning rapper performed hits including “Bodak Yellow” and “Bodega Baddie” while wearing a plunging bustier and leggings alongside the Knicks City Dancers.
Charles Barkley’s Cardi B Joke Divided Fans
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During the live broadcast, Barkley made multiple jokes about Cardi B’s chest while reacting to the performance. “I don’t know if those B’s. They might be Cardi D’s,” he quipped, referencing the rapper’s bra size. “I’m pretty sure those aren’t B’s,” Barkley added before joking, “She’s got the wrong initials.”
His Inside the NBA co-hosts Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson laughed at the moment, with Johnson joking, “I don’t know who said that, but I know it wasn’t me.”
The comments quickly sparked debate online. “Careful, that’ll get you fired, haha,” one person wrote. Another critic slammed the joke as “totally inappropriate,” adding: “We’re always commenting on each other’s bodies. This man is old enough to be her grandaddy.”
Others defended Barkley’s humor. “Only Chuck can say something that wild and still be loved for it,” one fan wrote, while another referenced one of Barkley’s longtime jokes, saying, “He ain’t in San Antonio. He can’t focus on them big ole women.”
Meanwhile, some critics argued the moment reflected outdated behavior on national television. “The man is a grown adult on national television, reducing a performer to her body like it’s 1995. It’s not funny, it’s not clever, it’s just sad,” one commenter wrote.
Cardi B Later Blamed A ‘Dark’ Energy On Donald Trump’s Attendance
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Barkley’s comments were not the only Cardi B-related moment to spark headlines following Game 3. After performing at halftime during the Knicks’ matchup against the Spurs, Cardi B later suggested President Donald Trump’s attendance may have shifted the energy inside Madison Square Garden.
Trump made history Monday as the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, watching as San Antonio defeated New York 115-111 and snapped the Knicks’ 13-game postseason winning streak.
Following the loss, Cardi addressed the game on Instagram Live after one fan asked whether Trump may have brought bad luck to the arena. “It probably was. But it is what it is,” Cardi said. “You can’t stop the president from f-cking going to a game. But it did feel a little dark in there.”
Trump’s appearance at Madison Square Garden generated headlines throughout the night, with heightened security measures, fan reactions, and political protests outside the arena all becoming part of the conversation surrounding Game 3.
Trump Skips Game 4 As Knicks Pull Off Historic Comeback In Star-Studded Night
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Unlike Game 3, President Donald Trump was notably absent from Madison Square Garden for Wednesday night’s Game 4 showdown, and the energy inside the arena looked very different.
After falling into a massive early hole against the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks stunned fans with a dramatic 107-106 comeback victory, overcoming a 29-point deficit to pull off the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. The win gave New York a commanding 3-1 series lead and reignited a Madison Square Garden crowd that had been silenced for much of the night.
The game also turned into a celebrity-filled affair, with stars packing courtside seats to watch the historic finish unfold. Among those in attendance were Taylor Swift, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Mariska Hargitay, Jimmy Fallon, and more, adding even more buzz to an already unforgettable Finals matchup.
The Charles Barkley ‘Hopes’ ESPN ‘Fires Him’ After NSFW Cardi B Joke first appeared on The Blast
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