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The Independent
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Brittney Griner's alleged Caitlin Clark's comments cause outrage among conservatives
Atlanta Dream star center Brittney Griner has whipped up conservative fury as they accuse her of hurling a racial slur at rival Caitlin Clark. Moments before the conclusion of the Indiana Fever's 81-76 victory over the Dream at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Thursday, cameras panned to Griner, who critics say labeled Clark 'trash' before calling her a 'f***ing white girl' in frustration over a foul on Natasha Howard. While a lack of audio meant it remained unclear whether Griner made the provocative comment, the moment quickly became fuel for controversy and sparked debate online. Conservative firebrand Riley Gaines shared the viral clip online and interpreted the three-time Olympic gold medalist's comments as a verbal attack. 'Brittney Griner appeared to call Caitlin Clark 'trash' and a 'f***ing white girl' after fouling out last night,' Gaines, a former NCAA Division I swimmer, tweeted. 'Just a reminder: this is who we traded for the Russian Merchant of Death,' she added, referring to Griner's release from a Russian prison in December 2022 as part of an exchange for notorious international arms dealer Viktor Bout, after she was arrested on drug charges at a Moscow airport. 'Now imagine if Clark had said the inverse.' Self-professed 'survivor' of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Philip Anderson, said: 'Caitlin Clark is a fool for bending the knee to these anti white pigs and Britney Griner should be sent back to Russia because that was the worst trade ever.' Meanwhile, right-wing media pundit Paul Szypula said the WNBA was 'trash' for failing to officially address the incident. 'Will the WNBA condemn, fine, and suspend Griner for this racist comment?' he tweeted. 'Of course not. The WNBA is trash. Just like Griner.' However, former ESPN commentator Jemele Hill shared Gaines' post and argued Griner had not called out Clark. 'I get that your whole personality is caught up in stuff like this, so you don't care about spreading misinformation,' she rebuffed. '1) the foul call made on her had nothing to do with Caitlin Clark. It was because she fouled Natasha Howard. 2) She clearly says 'trash' and 'f***ing WACK CALL.' Former Chicago Bulls star, Ron Harper, tweeted that 'they will always test Caitlin Clark, not because she is white, but because she is one of the best players in the WNBA.' 'Stop thinking this is about color,' he added. Two days after the alleged Clark incident, Griner cut her halftime interview with CBS Sports short on Saturday as the Dream took on the Dallas Wings. Griner instead spotted the referees walking past and could be heard yelling at them to 'be f***ing better.'
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
WNBA star Brittney Griner storms away from interview as she goes on foul-mouthed tirade at refs
Fiery WNBA star Brittney Griner left fans stunned on Saturday when she launched an F-bomb at officials as they exited the floor at halftime of her Atlanta Dream's win over the visiting Dallas Wings. The 6-foot-9 Baylor product and freed Russian penal colony prisoner was set for a customary on-court interview with CBS when she noticed the crew of Jeff Smith, Eric Brewton and Tyler Mirkovich leaving the floor. 'BG, right now you have five points, ten rebounds…' CBS' Autumn Johnson began as Griner's attention wandered. The apparent issue was Griner's displeasure with a late foul call. The three-time Olympic gold medalist was whistled for an offensive foul with 1:30 remaining before halftime. 'Right now she's talking to the refs… about holding,' Johnson said, calling the action of the halftime kerfuffle. Griner returned to the interview but only after seeming to yell 'be f***ing better' at the refs. She then appeared to compose herself before apologizing to both Johnson and the CBS audience: 'I'm sorry, y'all.' Some fans agreed with Griner's displeasure. 'I was watching this live,' one fan wrote on X. 'I feel Brittney Griner's pain. With her being so [tall, she] can't do nothing without the refs calling a foul on her.' Many others directed criticism at Griner. 'We traded an international arms dealer for this,' one person wrote, referring to Viktor Bout, the so-called 'Merchant of Death' who returned to Russia in exchange for Griner in 2022. Griner scored 15 points, Jones scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Rhyne Howard distributed 10 assists for Atlanta (2-2). The Dream distributed 23 assists on 29-made baskets as they shot 42.6 percent, thanks largely to Alisha Gray's 27 points. NaLyssa Smith scored 13 points, reserve Maddy Siegrist scored 12, Paige Bueckers 11 and reserves Tyasha Harris and Teaira McCowan 10 apiece for Dallas (0-4). The Wings starters shot just 13 for 47 (27.6 percent). Dallas overall shot 30 for 82 (36.6 percent). Siegrist gave Dallas its last lead at 26-24 with 4:31 left before halftime. Griner tied it 13 seconds later with a layup, Gray made two foul shots and that started a 13-4 Atlanta run to close the half with a 37-30 lead. Jones' layup early in the third quarter gave Atlanta its first double-digit advantage, 45-35. The Dream continued to extend their margin and led 68-50 entering the fourth. Dallas went on a 15-2 run to close within 70-56 with 5:06 left but never got closer. Griner previously told reporters her move to Atlanta from Phoenix has helped her recapture her love of the game. The former first-overall pick built her career over 12 years with the Mercury and once appeared to be a permanent fixture in Phoenix, where she helped win the title in 2014 and was twice the WNBA's scoring champion. In a WNBA off-season full of blockbuster acquisitions, Griner signing a one-year deal with the Dream earlier this year was perhaps the biggest shock to fans. But the three-time Olympic champion said it was exactly the move she needed. 'I was somewhere for a very long time and it's good to have a different change of pace, different outlook on everything. Definitely found the love for the game again being here,' Griner told a press conference. Griner missed the 2022 season when she was detained for nearly 10 months in Russia after authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
WNBA star Brittney Griner abruptly abandons halftime interview to explode at refs
Fiery WNBA star Brittney Griner left fans stunned on Saturday when she launched an F-bomb at officials as they exited the floor at halftime of her Atlanta Dream's win over the visiting Dallas Wings. The 6-foot-9 Baylor product and freed Russian penal colony prisoner was set for a customary on-court interview with CBS when she noticed the crew of Jeff Smith, Eric Brewton and Tyler Mirkovich leaving the floor. 'BG, right now you have five points, ten rebounds…' CBS' Autumn Johnson began as Griner's attention wandered. The apparent issue was Griner's displeasure with a late foul call. The three-time Olympic gold medalist was whistled for an offensive foul with 1:30 remaining before halftime. 'Right now she's talking to the refs… about holding,' Johnson said, calling the action of the halftime kerfuffle. Griner returned to the interview but only after seeming to yell 'be f***ing better' at the refs. She then appeared to compose herself before apologizing to both Johnson and the CBS audience: 'I'm sorry, y'all.' Some fans agreed with Griner's displeasure. 'I was watching this live,' one fan wrote on X. 'I feel Brittney Griner's pain. With her being so [tall, she] can't do nothing without the refs calling a foul on her.' Many others directed criticism at Griner. 'We traded an international arms dealer for this,' one person wrote, referring to Viktor Bout, the so-called 'Merchant of Death' who returned to Russia in exchange for Griner in 2022. Griner scored 15 points, Jones scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Rhyne Howard distributed 10 assists for Atlanta (2-2). The Dream distributed 23 assists on 29-made baskets as they shot 42.6 percent, thanks largely to Alisha Gray's 27 points. NaLyssa Smith scored 13 points, reserve Maddy Siegrist scored 12, Paige Bueckers 11 and reserves Tyasha Harris and Teaira McCowan 10 apiece for Dallas (0-4). The Wings starters shot just 13 for 47 (27.6 percent). Dallas overall shot 30 for 82 (36.6 percent). Siegrist gave Dallas its last lead at 26-24 with 4:31 left before halftime. Griner tied it 13 seconds later with a layup, Gray made two foul shots and that started a 13-4 Atlanta run to close the half with a 37-30 lead. Jones' layup early in the third quarter gave Atlanta its first double-digit advantage, 45-35. The Dream continued to extend their margin and led 68-50 entering the fourth. Dallas went on a 15-2 run to close within 70-56 with 5:06 left but never got closer. Griner previously told reporters her move to Atlanta from Phoenix has helped her recapture her love of the game. The former first-overall pick built her career over 12 years with the Mercury and once appeared to be a permanent fixture in Phoenix, where she helped win the title in 2014 and was twice the WNBA's scoring champion. In a WNBA off-season full of blockbuster acquisitions, Griner signing a one-year deal with the Dream earlier this year was perhaps the biggest shock to fans. But the three-time Olympic champion said it was exactly the move she needed. 'I was somewhere for a very long time and it's good to have a different change of pace, different outlook on everything. Definitely found the love for the game again being here,' Griner told a press conference. Griner missed the 2022 season when she was detained for nearly 10 months in Russia after authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis. She was freed in the aforementioned prisoner swap.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
WNBA star Brittney Griner abruptly abandons post-game interview to curse at refs
Fiery WNBA star Brittney Griner left fans stunned on Saturday when she launched an F-bomb at officials as they exited the floor at halftime of her Atlanta Dream's win over the visiting Dallas Wings. The 6-foot-9 Baylor product and freed Russian penal colony prisoner was set for a customary on-court interview with CBS when she noticed the crew of Jeff Smith, Eric Brewton and Tyler Mirkovich leaving the floor. 'BG, right now you have five points, ten rebounds…' CBS' Autumn Johnson began as Griner's attention wandered. The apparent issue was Griner's displeasure with a late foul call. The three-time Olympic gold medalist was whistled for an offensive foul with 1:30 remaining before halftime. 'Right now she's talking to the refs… about holding,' Johnson said, calling the action of the halftime kerfuffle. Griner returned to the interview but only after seeming to yell 'be f***ing better' at the refs. She then appeared to compose herself before apologizing to both Johnson and the CBS audience: 'I'm sorry, y'all.' Some fans agreed with Griner's displeasure. 'I was watching this live,' one fan wrote on X. 'I feel Brittney Griner's pain. With her being so [tall, she] can't do nothing without the refs calling a foul on her.' Many others directed criticism at Griner. 'We traded an international arms dealer for this,' one person wrote, referring to Viktor Bout, the so-called 'Merchant of Death' who returned to Russia in exchange for Griner in 2022. Griner scored 15 points, Jones scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Rhyne Howard distributed 10 assists for Atlanta (2-2). The Dream distributed 23 assists on 29-made baskets as they shot 42.6 percent, thanks largely to Alisha Gray's 27 points. NaLyssa Smith scored 13 points, reserve Maddy Siegrist scored 12, Paige Bueckers 11 and reserves Tyasha Harris and Teaira McCowan 10 apiece for Dallas (0-4). The Wings starters shot just 13 for 47 (27.6 percent). Dallas overall shot 30 for 82 (36.6 percent). Siegrist gave Dallas its last lead at 26-24 with 4:31 left before halftime. Griner tied it 13 seconds later with a layup, Gray made two foul shots and that started a 13-4 Atlanta run to close the half with a 37-30 lead. Jones' layup early in the third quarter gave Atlanta its first double-digit advantage, 45-35. The Dream continued to extend their margin and led 68-50 entering the fourth. Dallas went on a 15-2 run to close within 70-56 with 5:06 left but never got closer. Griner previously told reporters her move to Atlanta from Phoenix has helped her recapture her love of the game. The former first-overall pick built her career over 12 years with the Mercury and once appeared to be a permanent fixture in Phoenix, where she helped win the title in 2014 and was twice the WNBA's scoring champion. In a WNBA off-season full of blockbuster acquisitions, Griner signing a one-year deal with the Dream earlier this year was perhaps the biggest shock to fans. But the three-time Olympic champion said it was exactly the move she needed. 'I was somewhere for a very long time and it's good to have a different change of pace, different outlook on everything. Definitely found the love for the game again being here,' Griner told a press conference. Griner missed the 2022 season when she was detained for nearly 10 months in Russia after authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
'Aussie Cossack' Simeon Boikov's legal fees paid by fund linked to Russian intelligence
Simeon Boikov, the pro-Putin propagandist hiding in the Russian consulate in Sydney from police , received money and support from a Kremlin-backed organisation that has bankrolled the legal defence of alleged spies and criminals, new documents reveal. Previous reporting has indicated that the organisation, Pravfond, has helped pay for the legal defence of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and hit man Vadim Krasikov, who murdered a Chechen militant in Berlin in 2019. Several top Pravfond figures, including its deputy director Vladimir Pozdorovkin, have been identified as former intelligence officers. Formally known as "Foundation to Support and Defend the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad," Pravfond was founded in 2012 with the stated goal of defending the rights of expat Russians, primarily by offering assistance if they get into legal trouble. Representatives of European intelligence agencies said they considered Pravfond to be an instrument of Russian intelligence. Marta Tuul, a spokesperson for KAPO, Estonia's security service, said the foundation was created to fund influence operations under the cover of combating discrimination. "It is an extension of the Russian intelligence services, enabling the control and direction of the Russian-speaking diaspora," Ms Tuul said. Normunds Mežviets, director of Latvia's State Security Service, said that his agency had been investigating Pravfond for years. "We have seen … that in connection with this fund, individuals who present themselves as independent, let's say, experts, researchers, employees of this fund, are actually staff officers of Russian intelligence services," Mr Mežviets said. He did not provide specific examples. Journalists from Danish public broadcaster DR obtained an archive of nearly 50,000 emails from Pravfond and shared it with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and 28 media partners including the ABC. The archive exposes the inner workings of a foundation used by the Russian government to advance its interests around the world — defending spies, maintaining networks of influence, and funding propaganda — all under the banner of fighting for the human rights of Russian "compatriots". The emails reveal the extraordinary level of support offered to Boikov over several years. It has included thousands of dollars in funding, lobbying of officials on his behalf, as well as petitioning for him to be granted Russian citizenship. Boikov, who goes by the nickname "Aussie Cossack", has been hiding from authorities in the consulate since December 2022 after he assaulted a pro-Ukraine protester in central Sydney. At the time, Boikov had just been released from jail after serving almost three months for breaching a court order suppressing the name of an alleged child sex offender who was facing trial. He was on parole when he committed the assault and fled to the consulate to avoid an arrest warrant. He was convicted in absentia. According to the emails, Boikov's Sydney-based wife applied for at least three rounds of legal aid from Pravfond, and the organisation helped him at least once. They reveal that Sydney City Crime, a legal firm in which lawyer Mark Davis was a partner, received thousands of dollars in legal fees as a result of Pravfond's funding. In one email, Boikov's wife attaches an application form seeking $US23,700 ($36,850) between October and November 2022 to "ensure further representation of Semyon Boykov's interests in the courts of Australia". She notes that on July 13, 2022, Pravfond had made another payment towards Boikov's legal fees, which was used to pay $11,000 to Mr Davis's firm. The following year, in a separate application, Boikov's wife asks for $US19,500 ($30,252) more funding from Pravfond, attaching an invoice from Sydney City Crime dated March 6, 2023, for $28,600. She says that the money was being requested to help fund Boikov's legal defence over the assault, explaining that Mr Davis and another lawyer are "are negotiating with the state police to drop the charges". No system is 100 per cent secure, but ProtonMail can be used to protect your identity by using end-to-end encryption. Please read the terms and conditions to work out the best method of communication for you. Boikov told the ABC that he couldn't comment directly on some matters in the correspondence that were covered by client/lawyer privilege, including the precise amounts of money that were granted to him by Pravfond. But he said the idea to apply to Pravfond "would have been probably a recommendation from the embassy itself, which is very unusual because previously they've never supported [me], and I think it was just out of sympathy to my situation — that everyone was shocked that I could be imprisoned". "Such a heavy sentence imposed as a national security interest, extreme high risk inmate. "And everyone everyone knew, including the embassy that that is outrageous." Mr Davis told the ABC that he was unable to comment unless Boikov wished to surrender client/lawyer privilege. "I can say that we never had any dealings with the organisation you are referring to or any other Russian organisation in relation to Mr Boikov or his legal fees," Mr Davis said. "We issued invoices to Mr Boikov and Mr Boikov or Mrs Boikov would pay them. There was no more complexity than that. He said the firm no longer acted for Boikov. Asked why, given Pravfond's alleged intelligence ties and prior support of the likes of Viktor Bout and Vadim Krasikov, he thought it was appropriate to apply for funding, Boikov said he was unaware of these facts. "I didn't know about this fund … but even if I knew, even if I knew [them], I had no problems, because I think they're all heroes. They're my compatriots. "I think Viktor Bout's a great guy … he's fantastic. He's a patriot. I'm a patriot." Pravfond describes Boikov in internal documents and letters to other agencies as a Russian patriot unjustly persecuted for airing his views. The organisation has also lobbied on Boikov's behalf. During his stay at the consulate, Boikov and his wife complained of him being mistreated by the Consul General, Igor Arzhaev. According to a Pravfond report contained in the emails, Boikov's wife wrote to Pravfond complaining that "psychological pressure is being exerted on S. Boykov in the RZU [consulate], which is undermining his strength and health". "In her letter of appeal, she, in particular, points out that, on the instructions of Consul General I.N. Arzhaev, S. Boykov was prohibited from leaving his apartment for several months, the door was bolted from the outside, restrictions were imposed on contacts with his wife, and he was deprived of access to the Internet. "I.N. Arzhaev made offensive statements about S. Boykov, blackmailed him and made threats, and sent complaints about him to Moscow," the report said. Boikov told the ABC that the allegations in the letter were true and that Mr Arzhaev "would justify the psychological pressure, the prison-like conditions … by saying, 'You're an Australian citizen. And you are in the section of the consulate which is for diplomats only.'" In response, according to the emails, Pravfond convened meetings with high-level Russian diplomats and wrote letters advocating for Boikov's interests. "On August 14, 2023, the Executive Director sent a letter to [Boikov's wife] with a message that the Foundation had drawn the attention of interested departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the problems of S. Boykov," a report by Pravfond said. "This, in our understanding, generally contributed to the normalisation of the situation around him. The Foundation expressed its readiness to continue supporting S. Boykov in his activities for the benefit of the Russian world." However, in May last year, Boikov again wrote to Pravfond claiming that his lawyer, Mr Davis, had told him that Mr Arzhaev "dreams of giving me up to the Australian police". "For some reason, Arzhaev is sure that he will achieve this in the near future," Boikov wrote. "I ask you to take measures to stop any attempt by Arzhaev to betray me and hand me over to the police/special services of Australia. "I am ready to leave the Consulate General even today, but only directly to Russia. I categorically refuse to be handed over from the Consulate to the police/special services/UFSIN [prisons service] of Australia. "I trust only the Russian government and am waiting for the issue of my exfiltration to the Russian Federation to be resolved." Mr Arzhaev is no longer Consul General in Sydney and did not respond to a request for comment. From inside the consulate, Boikov regularly broadcasts pro-Russian propaganda via the Telegram app, where he has over 90,000 subscribers. Between October 2023 and last December, he was listed on the Australian government's foreign influence transparency register due to his employment by Russian state-owned media group Rossiya Segodnya — or Russia Today — which owns and operates the propaganda channel Sputnik. According to the register, Boikov's role was to "write information and multimedia materials in English and Russian on international, socio-political, socio-economic and other topics relevant in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region for posting on the foreign principal's internet resources". The emails show Boikov asked Pravfond to help him secure more room for his broadcast studio inside the consulate, following his listing on the transparency register and work with Russia Today. "Since I am completely legally engaged in journalism in Australia and officially signed a contract with the Russian federal information agency 'Russia Today', I ask you to assist in obtaining additional premises (room) in the Consulate building to expand its television and radio studio, in which information materials for the International Information Agency 'Russia Today' will be prepared and covered," he wrote. "According to my information, my studio in Australia is the most active and permanent official information structure carrying out propaganda of Russia's interests in the English-speaking world." Boikov told the ABC that this request was not granted by the consulate. Most significantly, the documents show Pravfond pushed for his Russian citizenship — publicly confirmed in a 2023 decree from President Vladimir Putin. "Thanks to your petition and support, on September 27, 2023, a Presidential decree was signed granting me Russian citizenship," Boikov wrote. "The Russian passport was handed to me after the oath on the territory of the General Consulate in Sydney. "For me, this is a huge joyful event, which I have been striving for [for] many years. "I express my sincere gratitude to you and the staff of the Foundation for the Protection of the Rights of Compatriots for your assistance in resolving this issue." Boikov goes on to assure Pravfond that he will be continuing his propaganda activities as a Russian citizen. "I continue my active pro-Russian activities, now as a citizen of Russia living far from my country … a constant information war is being waged with anti-Australian and anti-Russian forces of evil on the international radio station TNT and Sputnik." TNT Radio was an Australian online station that hosted right-wing political views and conspiracy theorists before shutting down last year. Boikov told the ABC that he believed his pro-Russian propaganda work encouraged Pravfond to support his citizenship application. "I'm sure that makes me more appealing," he said. "It shouldn't be unusual that Pravfond supports people, because what's the common factor here for our pro-Russian position such as I and others who have probably come into contact with Pravfond? "The common factor is that most of us, myself included, [as a] very clear example, are indeed persecuted for the fact that we stick up for Russia." Pravfond, its director Alexander Udaltsov, its deputy director Vladimir Pozdorovkin, the Russian consulate in Sydney and Mr Arzhaev did not respond to requests for comment.
