Ex-ESPN star Keith Olbermann blasts Pat McAfee over Canada remarks, calls on network to fire him
Former ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann slammed Pat McAfee and called on the company to fire him on Monday following the WWE commentator's remarks about Canada.
McAfee called Canada a "terrible country" after wrestling fans in Canada booed "The Star-Spangled Banner" performance ahead of the Elimination Chamber premium live event over the weekend. He sounded off about the backlash he received during his episode of "The Pat McAfee Show."
"A lot of us tried to warn the new espn management that the day would come when this idiot would draw them into a permanent political controversy and they could either be subsumed by it, or fire him," Olbermann said in response to McAfee's Monday remarks. "That day is today. Fire him."
McAfee dug in during his show.
"Now, Canada, listen, there's been some things said to me from Canadians that I guess I respect because of the passion that you have for your country — which I hope you understand that I was showing the same for mine," McAfee explained on the show. "You booed my country."
"I understand, now, from the Canadians that they have a lot more passion for their country than I could have imagined. A lot of terrible things have been said about me, and I understand it," McAfee continued.
"I didn't say Canadians were terrible. I said your country was. You booed us. I said you were terrible. Let's shake hands and move along. I still love Canadians… I hope it gets settled."
Boos from Canadian fans during the U.S. national anthem began amid President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods. The president paused them in February but had it start this week.
The boos continued during the 4 Nations Face-Off, leading to a fight between American and Canadian NHL players in Montreal.
Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Can Jaylen Brown lead the Boston Celtics next season?
Can Jaylen Brown lead the Boston Celtics next season? With Jayson Tatum ruled out of the 2025-26 season, Jaylen Brown could find himself stepping into a leading role for the Boston Celtics. The Georgia native has long been Boston's "1B" next to Tatum, leading fans to wonder what a team led by Brown could look like. Now, it would appear they're going to get their answer. Brown is an elite scorer, especially in the mid-range and around the rim. He's also improved as a playmaker in recent years. Still, there are concerns surrounding his decision-making and how he keeps control of the ball in traffic. As such, there will be a lot of questions surrounding his ability to thrive as a primary offensive option over the course of the season. Fortunately for Celtics fans, Brown continues to find ways of elevating his game and answering any questions asked of him. In a recent episode of ESPN's "First Take", Stephen A. Smith, Monica McNutt and Marcus Morris Sr. discussed Tatum's injury and the pressure that will now fall on Brown's shoulders. The trio shared their thoughts on whether Brown can lead a team, and more importantly, whether he will still be on the Celtics roster by the start of the season. You can watch the full discussion by clicking the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Substack:
USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Merab Dvalishvili not interested in taking 'big risk' of fighting Alexander Volkanovski
Merab Dvalishvili not interested in taking 'big risk' of fighting Alexander Volkanovski Merab Dvalishvili isn't willing to chase UFC dual-champ status as long as Alexander Volkanovski holds the featherweight title. Bantamweight champion Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) rematches Sean O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 316 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Many fighters have opted to move up a division in attempt to capture a second UFC belt, most recently Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. However, Dvalishvili admits that Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) may not be the best stylistic matchup for him to attain that goal. "I mentioned a couple of times that I don't want to fight with Alexander Volkanovski because he's way stronger than me," Dvalishvili said to Volkanovski on FOX Sports Australia. "I don't want to take a big risk. I'm good. Even if this weight cut sucks, I'd rather kill myself to make this weight and be comfortable here. I'm good. I don't want to (fight him). Then we can cook peacefully and wish each other the best." Volkanovski featured Dvalishvili in one of his "Cooking with Volk" VLOGS this past year, and the pair plan on collaborating again. "I appreciate that, mate. The respect is mutual, anyway," Volkanovski responded to Dvalishvili. "You're a legend. I can't wait to see you, and good luck this weekend."
Newsweek
38 minutes ago
- Newsweek
G7 Invite for Modi Signals India's Growing Weight for Democratic Alliance
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In a significant diplomatic step with implications for global alliances, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he will attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this month, after being invited by Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney's office confirmed the invitation was made in a call with Modi. Why It Matters Modi's attendance at the G7, of which India is not a member, signals an improvement in the relationship between India and Canada after a very rocky period and came after reports that no invitation would be forthcoming for Modi this year, triggering criticism of Modi from his political opponents. India's association with the G7 group of industrialized democracies underlines its strategic importance for the United States and its allies at a time of growing geopolitical polarization. While India is the world's largest democracy, it is also part of the BRICS alliance alongside Western rivals China and Russia, making the world's most populous nation a key pivot point in global affairs. Russia was excluded from what was formerly the G8 in 2014 after annexing Crimea. What To Know Prime Minister Modi took to X on Friday to announce he had received and accepted a personal invitation from newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Modi posted: "Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit." The Carney-Modi call marks the highest-level dialogue between the two countries since ties soured under his predecessor Justin Trudeau's government. President of India Narendra Damodardas Modi is welcomed by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia on June 14, 2024 in Fasano, Italy President of India Narendra Damodardas Modi is welcomed by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia on June 14, 2024 in Fasano, Italy Photo by Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis via Getty Images Carney's new administration appears to have shifted to a more pragmatic tone: prioritizing trade, diaspora ties, and democratic values over lingering espionage-related disputes. India, for its part, views reengagement as a sign of Western acknowledgment of its strategic indispensability. India-Canada relations have been in the deep freeze since September 2023, primarily stemming from Canadian allegations—vigorously denied by India—linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader. Canada's intelligence service had also identified India as one of the countries that could attempt to meddle in Candian elections. What People Are Saying Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Office: "The two leaders discussed the longstanding relationship between Canada and India, including deep people-to-people ties and significant commercial links. Importantly, there was agreement to continued law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns. Danish Singh, president of the WSO Canadian Sikh group: "For Sikhs in Canada, this is a betrayal, not just of our community, but of core Canadian values. Prime Minister Carney's decision to invite Narendra Modi." What Happens Next Modi's attendance at the G7 will mark another sign of India's increasing prominence on the world stage and in an alliance with global democracies that can potentially counter the rise of autocratic powers including China and Russia.
