Angel Reese went on a twerking spree, but not everyone is cheering. The WNBA star, who’s spoken out against being sexualized in sports, is now facing major backlash after a very viral video of her twerking with rapper Sexyy Red.
The basketball star is currently at the center of a social media firestorm, being branded a “hypocrite” after a video of her twerking with rapper Sexyy Red went viral this week. This wouldn’t be so shocking, except that Reese has previously expressed to fans that she’s “tired of being sexualized” in the sport.
The internet, as you can imagine, is having a field day with this!
The Chicago Sky forward is no stranger to keeping her fans engaged, whether it’s on the court or through her popular “Unapologetically Angel” podcast. This time, however, she’s done it with a sizzling collaboration that’s got everyone talking for entirely different reasons. Before diving into an unfiltered conversation on her latest podcast episode, Angel Reese and rapper Sexyy Red decided to “show off their talents” in a wild twerking contest.
Footage circulating online shows Angel Reese, currently in her second season with the Chicago Sky, performing a rather racy act alongside Sexyy Red after filming their podcast. The 28-second clip shows Reese in a black bodysuit, twerking directly at the camera, while Sexyy Red, at one stage, even slaps her on the backside. Both women take turns showing off their dance moves before coming together for a hug and continuing to dance. And that’s where the problem started for many.
Fans were quick, and I mean quick, to call out the women’s basketball player over the video. Many were referencing comments she made just last year, in early 2024, about feeling “sexualized” within the sport. The comments on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) were unforgiving. “Gross. Get some class, ladies,” one user wrote. Another bluntly stated: “Meanwhile, Angel Reese, ‘I hate when men sexualize me.'”
This backlash stems from powerful statements Angel Reese made at the end of her college career. After LSU’s emotional Elite Eight loss to Iowa in March of 2024, a tearful Reese addressed reporters during a press conference. She didn’t hold back, reflecting on the immense criticism and online abuse she and her teammates had faced during their deep tournament run.
“I’ve been through so much,” she told reporters, wiping away tears. She continued, “I don’t really get to speak out on things because I just ignore. I just try to stand strong. I’ve been through so much. I’ve seen so much. I’ve been attacked so many times, death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened, I’ve been so many things, and I’ve stood strong every single time”.
What are your thoughts on this viral moment and the backlash? Let us know in the comments!
