Former NFL defensive back Ryan Clark has apologized to Grete Griffin after involving the former heptathlete in his recent dispute with her husband, Robert Griffin III. After the former Washington quarterback made a video criticizing WNBA star Angel Reese, Clark fired back at Griffin.
Clark claimed that Griffin didn’t understand the struggles of black women because he married a white woman, a stance he has now tried to clarify.
Ryan Clark Apologizes to Grete Griffin for Involving Her in Dispute With Robert Griffin III
Clark apologized for involving Griffin’s family in a video that should bring about the beginning of the end of the recent drama between the two former NFL players. The former Steelers player had taken issue with his former ESPN colleague for criticizing Reese after the Chicago Sky star reacted angrily to being fouled by the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark.
Clark’s issue with Griffin’s take centered around race and the latter’s decision to criticize a black woman. In a response, Clark accused Griffin of criticizing Reese to “gain favor from his desired crowd.”
“RGIII plays into the narrative that Reese is the villain of Clark’s hero origin story. Now, Oberman & Portnoy, who berated Reese in college, have an ally in Griffin. Add him to the list of black men who’ve adopted the corny trend of denigrating black women to affirm their choices.
“Attacking Reese multiple times in order to gain favor from his desired crowd won’t help RGII blend in more. ‘Echoing the micro aggressions of racist won’t make him any less black than me.'”
RGIII saying he could recognize “hate when ‘he’ see(s) it”, when referring to Angel Reese’s feelings toward Caitlin Clark was irresponsible, but not at all surprising. Clark’s the biggest star in women’s basketball, & deservedly so. No need to beat up Reese to add shine to it.… pic.twitter.com/u2IDFwctf0
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25)
Clark Admits to Letting Personal Feelings Get In the Way
It wasn’t long before Griffin addressed Clark’s personal attack, calling out the former Pittsburgh Steeler for crossing a line by involving his wife. Clark quickly issued a short response to Griffin’s second video, doubling down on what he’d said.
“In no way tripping on any of it. Know exactly who I am, what I said, why I said it, & who I said it for! I can live with everything else.”
In no way tripping on any of it. Know exactly who I am, what I said, why I said it, & who I said it for! I can live with everything else.
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25)
That stance appears to have changed, though, as the Super Bowl champion has acknowledged that he was wrong to involve Griffin’s wife. Posting another video from his podcast, “The Pivot,” Clark stated that if he could redo his original video, he would do so without using Grete to make his point. He made a point of directing his apology to Grete, specifically, with no apology offered to Griffin.
If I had to do address @RGIII again I wouldn’t include his wife. She didn’t need to be made an example of in order to make my point. I could have easily pointed to the positive impact a connection with black women had on the way you see, understand, & treat them.
The optics of… pic.twitter.com/nDZ6zUm8Q3
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25)
While the drama may now be mostly put to bed, both former players have received heavy criticism online for their actions. Clark’s apology should serve as a step in the right direction, but it’s unlikely the pair will be friends anytime soon.
