“He’s gonna catch some flack for that”- Internet reacts as Joe Budden calls Angel Reese “a bird” while defending Caitlin Clark

Podcaster Joe Budden is getting flak for commenting on the budding basketball rivalry between Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark. Budden referred to the May 17 WNBA season-opening game, which the Sky lost 93 to 58, during the latest episode of his podcast, The Joe Budden Podcast.

While addressing the rivalry that developed between Reese and Clark, podcast co-host Marc Lamont Hill commented that the audience seeks to compare each basketball rivalry with that of the legendary competition between icons Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. When defending Clark’s performance during the game where she committed a flagrant foul against Reese, Budden said that while Clark was like Magic, Reese was simply “a bird.”

Reacting to a clip of the podcast episode circulating on X, fans and netizens were quick to point out that Budden’s comments were not in good spirit. Many fans called Budden out over his comments and defended Angel Reese.

A fan responded to Budden’s comments on Reese and wrote on X:

“Yea he’s gonna catch some flack for that.”

Another fan shared that they wouldn’t watch Budden’s podcast anymore due to the comments, writing:

“Yeah I think I’m done with his podcast.”

A netizen took to X to provide context on how Budden singling out Reese was distasteful, writing:

“This was beyond lame since Reese just broke a record in her own right and was an All-Star last season.”

A fan took to social media to call Budden out on his supposed support for Black woman, while disparaging a Black female player. The fan wrote:

“Saying all this then saying 'imma always support black women' we must be speaking a different language.”

Despite the fact that many netizens found Budden’s comments inappropriate, a lot of the podcaster’s fans wrote in his support.

Budden’s supporters wrote that Budden’s comments, instead of being malicious, were actually funny.

A fan wrote:

“Joe funny as hell for this one. Ultimately, what’s going to be fascinating to watch is the dynamic of their relationship (CC AND ANGEL) after they have to play together on the same team….which is going to happen eventually.”

Another fan used the opportunity to make a comment on the tendency of netizens to take offense at jokes on social media, and wrote:

“Getting mad over jokes is starting to get old and ruining content but yall go off with yall capes.”

Another fan tried to maintain some objectivity, and wrote of Reese’s recent form:

“Angel Reese gotta step up her play cuz jokes like these gon keep flying until she gets better. Caitlyn Clark seems like a generational talent compared to her.”

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Joe Budden recently became embroiled in a feud with 50 Cent

During a previous episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, Joe Budden referenced rapper 50 Cent’s digs on music producer Irv Gotti after the latter passed away in February. 50 Cent and Gotti were involved in a longstanding feud, according to XXL Mag.

50 Cent made comments on social media after Gotti’s passing. As per The Root, 50 wrote on Instagram:

“I’m smoking on dat Gotti pack, nah God bless him LOL.”

It was in response to 50’s comments on Gotti that Budden mentioned the In Da Club rapper during his podcast and said that he needs “therapy.” The Root reported that Budden said:

“50 Cent needs therapy. I don’t care if you agree with the rationale. And 50 is 50. He gon’ stand in it. He gon’ stand strong in it.”

On April 21, however, 50 Cent and Budden resolved their conflict. Both men were present at the New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons game at the Madison Square Garden, according to Billboard.

50 Cent took to his Instagram page to post an image of himself sitting in front of Budden and joked that all was good between the two as Joe Budden shared that the rapper did not need therapy anymore.