Legendary commentator calls on ESPN to fire 'idiot' Pat McAfee after Canada remarks
Pat McAfee has been slammed for his comments about Canada and its citizens, with some calling for the ESPN to sever ties with the former NFL star over the outburst
ESPN is facing demands to fire popular host Pat McAfee after he was forced to apologize for his rant against Canada.
McAfee's outburst came in response to Canadian wrestling fans booing the American national anthem - 'The Star-Spangled Banner' - sung by Elizabeth Irving, while he was commentating at the WWE Chambers event in Toronto on Saturday.
The former NFL punter, who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 to 2016 before moving into media, faced fierce backlash for labeling Canada a "terrible country." During the broadcast, McAfee stated: "These are the most stacked Elimination Chambers that the WWE has ever had. It kind of sucks that it's in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing!"
His comments were particularly ill-timed, following United States President Trump's promise to impose tariffs on the country. Amid widespread calls for an apology, the 37-year-old TV personality delivered a three-minute apology on his show on Monday.
"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," he said.
"You booed my country. Now, I heard from a lot of Canadians. During the national anthem, obviously the Rogers Centre, overwhelming boo. I mean, very loud boo. The first reaction whenever the national anthem starts up there was for some of these Canadians just to start booing. My entire life, my first reaction when somebody boos the national anthem is, 'f--- you.'
"I love Canadians, but my first reaction whenever you boo our country is, 'Well, OK, let's fight.' And I'm sorry, so let's go shake their hands - Canada."
As the dust settled, McAfee stretched out his hand towards the camera, signaling an olive branch. This did little to quell the tsunami of outrage on social media, as calls mounted for the U.S. network to can him over the contentious speech. Ex-ESPN and MSNBC star Keith Olbermann was among the chorus, laying into his former employer to cut ties with the former Barstool Sports bigwig, slating him as an "idiot."
"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 wrote on X. "That dayis today. Fire him."
The wave of dissent surged on X, where one voice demanded: "McAfee SHOULD be fired." However, not all were in favor of castigation; some of McAfee's defenders shot back, insisting: "Pat shouldn't have to apologize for something he said in character on a wrestling show."
Since 2019, McAfee has been part of the ESPN clan, lending his expertise to 'Thursday Night College Football' broadcasts and later stepping up as a regular analyst on 'College Gameday.' However, any possible departure could be tangled by the fact that McAfee currently licenses 'The Pat McAfee Show' to the broadcasting giant, a contract rumored to be valued in the eight-figure range.