Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel went viral last month over an exchange he had with Fever’s number one draft pick Caitlin Clark and he’s since been suspended from his job over it.
The incident happened on April 17 at Clark’s introductory press conference with her new team.
During the presser, Doyel introduced himself and made the heart gesture with his hands that Clark is known to use during her games.
“Real quick, I wanna do this,” he said to the WNBA’s newest star while making the gesture.
Clark responded with, “You like that?”
Doyel hit Clark back with, “I like that you’re here” and Clark said, “Yeah, I do that at my family after every game.”
Then, Doyel said to her, “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
Reporter: 🫶
Caitlin Clark: “You like that?”
Reporter: “I like that you’re here.”
Caitlin: “Yeah, I do that at my family after every game.”
Reporter: “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
Caitlin: 😳
(via @IndianaFever / YT)pic.twitter.com/BBjU881K7a
22-year-old Clark clearly felt super awkward after Doyel’s remarks, which landed him a two-week suspension, according to former Indy Star journalist Bob Kravitz.
“The Star had hoped to keep this under wraps,” Kravitz said. “But it’s hard to hide the fact a lead columnist at a major metro has disappeared just weeks after an uncomfortable and unfortunate give-and-take with Clark at a significant press conference.”
Kravitz also shared that Doyel “will not attend any Fever games this summer but will continue to write columns off the team by watching TV from his home.”
TMZ Sports reached out to Doyel for comment and received an instant automated message from his email, “Hey there. Getting tired here, so taking some time off and won’t be checking email.”
Doyel tried to apologize after the incident on X.
“Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming Caitlin Clark to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature [heart],” he posted to X following the press conference. “My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.
Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature 🫶. My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.
— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) April 17, 2024
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