Pat McAfee responds to fans' fury over polarizing Home Run Derby appearance
The polarizing ESPNer scrolled through X to see what fans thought of his involvement in MLB's Home Run Derby on Monday, and some responses made it seem like fans wanted to change the channel due to his appearance.
McAfee screen-shotted three tweets about his involvement, alongside a GIF of comedian Tim Robinson looking oddly at a cell phone with the caption, 'What the hell.'
Pat McAfee during introductions.
Getty Images
'Good morning beautiful people Fresh off a break.. got a chance to do something new with a different sport..,' McAfee wrote Tuesday morning.
'I really enjoyed it and think it went exactly how all parties envisioned it.. let's see what X has to say…'
Said the first tweet: 'Kids don't realize it, but you used to be able to turn on ESPN and not see Stephen A. Smith or Pat McAfee. They were glorious times….'
'ESPN needs to enable a feature that allows people to unsubscribe form Pat McAfee in all formats,' a second read.
The third commented: 'Does ESPN know that Pat McAfee is bad at his job and subsequently annoys the f–k out of anyone who isn't 17 years old.'
McAfee is one of the faces of ESPN, and it's not surprising that the Worldwide Leader would tap him to be heavily involved in the festivities for an event airing on its network.
He hosted a press conference involving the managers and starting pitchers Monday, and then introduced the Home Run Derby participants later that night.
McAfee, whose self-titled show airs on ESPN, leaned into his WWE announcing roots by going full Jerry 'The King' Lawler to introduce eventual champion Cal Raleigh.
'With the fattest ass in all of professional sports,' McAfee said. 'Ladies and gentlemen: Big Dumper! Cal Raleigh!'
McAfee usually has not veered into MLB waters, instead sticking to wrestling, NFL and college football, and one fan told him perhaps he should not overexpose himself.
'Can't lie fam, I rock with you but this starting to become recurring. Everybody loves money but it's ok to turn down a gig here and there. We don't HAVE to see you on everything. We won't forget you I swear,' X user @shadboogie said in a quote tweet.
Pat McAfee alongside his colleague Ty Schmit.
Getty Images
McAfee responded with a GIF from The Rock's famous 'Shut up, b—h,' remark in 2002.
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