ESPN host Malika Andrews became one of the big stories of the NBA’s inaugural In-season Tournament championship when she was booed by the Las Vegas crowd.
Andrews was introduced to present the trophy following the Los Angeles Lakers’ in-season title win over the Indiana Pacers, 123-109, on Saturday, Dec. 9, and the crowd unfurled boos and hisses at the host of “NBA Today” and “NBA Countdown.”
The crowd booed Malika Andrews pic.twitter.com/RokAXUhC7V
— Buzzer Sports (@Bzrsports) December 10, 2023
Many opined that the boos stem from Andrews, who is biracial and dating her White ESPN coworker, seemingly thriving at denigrating Black athletes and while simultaneously being slow to criticize and report on White players for similar transgressions.
Below is another angle of the crowd’s seeming disapproval of Andrews.
Fan footage of malika andrews getting booed at the lakers vs Indiana game pic.twitter.com/1nbF5ykg7C
— balling (@Chatnigga101) December 10, 2023
Interestingly enough, ESPN removed the X posts and YouTube videos that showed Andrews being booed by the crowd. In its place, Andrews personally posted the trophy presentation that began immediately after the booing took place.
Many in the Black community, particularly Black men, believe that Andrews unnecessarily sullied Alabama’s Brandon Miller during the 2023 NBA Draft in April. She devoted a segment to discussing how Miller was in the car when a passenger reportedly shot someone to death. Miller was never charged in the case and finished out the season for the Crimson Tide.
The fact that Andrews brought up the old police case during the draft rubbed some fans the wrong way.
Death. Taxes. Malika Andrews bringing up a case during the NBA Draft…
— Michael T Nixon, V🅿️ 1 of 1, sadly (Chillmonger) (@VPNiX0N) June 22, 2023
Others, however, defended Andrews for doing her job.
Twitter really turned on Malika Andrews in record time.
People realize there's an entire team of ESPN people ESPN telling her what to say from a truck, right?
She's not just talking about the gun case b/c she's personally trying to tank his draft stock or whatever people think.
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) June 23, 2023
Some fans also believe that Andrews was very slow to discuss the case of a White Australian player in the NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddy, who is being investigated for allegedly having sexual relations with an underage girl. The most prominent of the voices is from former NFL star Dez Bryant.
Black Twitter, as it is still being called, also unleashed venom at Andrews.
Black man hating Malika Andrews getting booed…
Me: pic.twitter.com/1FXewCvmfc
— Anakin Skylarkin (@SkylarkinBebopp) December 10, 2023
I'm not sure why so many are shocked. #StephenASmith & #MalikaAndrews have been showing you who they are for some time. 🦝🦝
— Jay Peso (@JayPesoBoxing) December 3, 2023
Malika Andrews Disdain For Black Men Is Called Out On Josh Giddey Allegations… https://t.co/ut1NYupC6D…via @YouTube
D. W. Griffith's Handmaiden Malika Andrews is being called out by the entire Black Male Internet #malikaandrews #joshgiddey #allegations #espn #nba📷#nbatoday pic.twitter.com/xCB0zR3spl
— Yobachi (@Yobachi) December 3, 2023
Y’all gon be mad at black men for those #MalikaAndrews boo’s out there in Vegas but please believe we don’t make up the crowd at most NBA games…. #JustSayin
— Comedian Chris Hightower (@FunnyCHigh) December 10, 2023
@malika_andrews boos were deserved. #malikaandrews
— Check (@Check85107539) December 10, 2023
