Ryan Clark was let go by ESPN in July after spending more than 11 years with the company. The former NFL safety was fired while on air and has since publicly criticized the network on multiple occasions. On Thursday, he made another claim about ESPN, this time involving Sophie Cunningham.
The New York Post shared a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting Clark’s comments.
“Ryan Clark bizarrely claims ESPN used Sophie Cunningham trans controversy as cover for his firing,” the New York Post wrote.
Clark made the remarks during an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast, where he claimed ESPN had planned his firing. He alleged that the network used the controversy surrounding Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes to divert attention from his departure.
“Sophie Cunningham says something, and they (OutKick) say, ‘A great brand switch for ESPN. Ryan Clark was fired this week,’ and now Sophie Cunningham leads the news,” Clark said. “That’s what they [ESPN] wanted. That’s why you leaked it to them. And so I think everything points to it.”
With Cunningham’s remarks on trans athletes becoming one of the most talked-about subjects in July, Clark claimed it was all a ruse to cover his firing. However, fans didn’t buy it and slammed him under the post.
“Beware, next employer. This guy is more drama than all the ladies in the WNBA combined,” a fan wrote.
“Absolutely NO ONE misses @Realrclark25 on @espn ….,” another fan added.
Fans continued criticizing the former Super Bowl champion, with many claiming it was his narcissism that got him fired.
“Narcissist through and through,” a fan remarked.
Clark has been out of work since leaving ESPN and reportedly cannot join another network, having signed a non-compete with ESPN, which expires at the end of February.
What did Sophie Cunningham say about trans athletes?
While Ryan Clark claimed that news of Sophie Cunningham’s remarks on transgender athletes was used to cover his firing from ESPN, what did the Fever guard actually say that shifted the focus onto her?
In July, Cunningham was asked about her views on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. The Indiana star pushed back, saying they should not compete alongside “young girls.”
“I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” Cunningham said.
Her comments sparked a wave of reactions online, with some supporting the guard for her honesty, while others criticized her remarks as transphobic.
Edited by Arian Kashyap
