Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Made Some Sexist Comments about the WNBA
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Three-time NBA all-star Gilbert Arenas is facing backlash online after sharing a series of sexist Instagram posts about WNBA players, calling them "ugly" and implying that they are lesbians, among other things.
On Wednesday, Arenas posted an Instagram video of an attractive woman with blond hair playing basketball in a thong. He used the caption as an opportunity to insult the appearances of WNBA athletes and say that they should look more like the woman featured in the clip.
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"NOW this is what america was hoping for when they announced the #WNBA back in 1996... not a bunch of chicks running around looking like,cast members from #orangeisthenewblack...dont get me wrong,they have few #cutiepies but theres a whole alotta #beanpies running around hahahahahaha if #skylardiggins came out like this,I dont care if she missed every layup..imma buy season tickets and I dont even know where the fuck #tulsa is hahahaha #2016newwnbaoutfitPLS and if u think this is sexist,9 times out of 10 u the ugly one and we didnt pay to come see u play anyway #donkeykong ...smdh #thiswillbeawesome #soldouteverywhere."
After receiving backlash for the above Instagram post, which some thought was insulting to lesbians since many characters in "Orange is the New Black" are gay, Arenas tried to clarify his message in a follow-up post. He seemed to imply that he likes women who date other women because he might be able to convince them to have a threesome:
"Hahahahaha I didnt say anything about them being #Lesbians lol..im a logical man...a female+ a female = 4 breast,2 vaginas,2 asses,meaning im on the hunt.. A female telling me shes a #lesbian is like a video chick saying she aint a groupie...I AINT really listening to shit she saying..all im trying to do is convince her and her partner that im a #lesbianstarterkit becuz we all know two females is better then 1 lmaoooooo but that ugly part YEAHHHH they got some #boogawolfs in that league lmaooo hahahaha #impetty #mrpetty"
He doubled down on his vulgar remarks in another post:
"To all the ppl mad about my POSTS #jackieM #aroundthehorn and bunch of high self esteem ugly chicks #FUCK YOU hahahahahaha I was trying to help ya sport But I guess yall are doing fine with #orangeisthenewblackbasketballedition #peoplehatethetruth what makes me laugh is if you ask men,name a few women basketball players.. we only know the cute ones lol."
People are responding to Gilbert Arenas' Instagram posts
The WNBA/NBA called Arenas' posts "repugnant" in a statement:
"Gilbert Arenas' comments are repugnant, utterly disrespectful and flat-out wrong. WNBA players are strong, talented and determined individuals who give it their all on the court and serve as inspiring role models to millions around the world.They should be celebrated for their accomplishments, not disparaged with ignorant insults."
Several WNBA players weighed in as well:
Arenas went on to post a hostile Instagram post about the WNBA players messaging him about his remarks:
"I have so much hate mail in my dm's from #WNBA players'do I look like a #beanpie asshole?' YALL know I keeps it 100' sweetie..if u dont get the fuck out my dm with that bull shit....AND call my cell phone PLS,LOOK im trying to buy yall #Christmas gifts....lmaooo....can we come to a happy medium,can yall switch out the baggy shorts,into the shit #magic had to wear in the 80's becuz the bodies im looking at right now are #EXTRAJUICYYY."
"If u cant laugh at my post..dont worry im laughing for u...im ending 2015 the way u should #petty and #happy," he wrote.
Here are some of the other heated reactions to Arenas' posts:
Many women in sports face criticism and body image insecurities because of their athletic body types. World champion UFC fighter Holly Holm recently said she experienced body image issues growing up, and fellow fighter Ronda Rousey has talked at length about suffering from eating disorders and starving herself to stay in her weight class for competitions. Earlier this year, The New York Times came under fire for the way one of its articles described Wimbledon winner Serena Williams' body.
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"[Williams] has large biceps and a mold-breaking muscular frame, which packs the power and athleticism that have dominated women’s tennis for years," Ben Rothernberg wrote for The New York Times. "Her rivals could try to emulate her physique, but most of them choose not to."
Williams told The Times in an interview that she loves the way she looks but avoids weight-lifting so as not to become more muscular.
“I don’t touch a weight, because I’m already super fit and super cut, and if I even look at weights, I get bigger. For years I’ve only done Thera-Bands and things like that, because that’s kind of how I felt. But then I realized that you really have to learn to accept who you are and love who you are. I’m really happy with my body type, and I’m really proud of it. Obviously it works out for me. I talk about it all the time, how it was uncomfortable for someone like me to be in my body.”
