Angel Reese Claps Back After RGIII Claims Her ‘Inner Circle’ Sided With Him: “Lying for Clout Is NASTY”

The ugly intersection of racism, social media, and sports rivalries flared up again this week, and WNBA star Angel Reese is once again at the center of the storm.

An offensive, digitally manipulated image of the Chicago Sky forward went viral on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, depicting Reese with a monkey photoshopped over her face in what appears to be fake cover art for NBA 2K26. The racist post, clearly meant to dehumanize Reese, was swiftly condemned by sports figures and fans, but the fallout didn’t end there.

Robert Griffin III Speaks Out… Then Reignites Controversy

Among those who spoke out against the vile image was Robert Griffin III, the Fox Sports football analyst and former NFL quarterback, who posted a strong condemnation of the racist imagery on X.

“This has got to stop,” Griffin wrote. “There is no place for racism in this world. Whether you like a player or not. Angel Reese should never be called or depicted as a monkey.”

But while Griffin’s message was initially received as a defense of Reese, he quickly veered into murkier waters, using his post to reference his past criticism of the WNBA rookie and claim that people within Reese’s inner circle had privately agreed with him.

Griffin’s statement referred to his previous commentary where he said it was “obvious” that Reese “hates” Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, a comment that stirred backlash earlier this summer. According to Griffin, backlash to that commentary led to his family receiving death threats after Reese allegedly shared a clip of his podcast.

“I never attacked her or her family,” Griffin wrote in Thursday’s post. “When I stated and backed up with clear basketball evidence that Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark. It’s sports. Everybody won’t like each other. People in Angel’s inner circle called me and told me I was right.”

Angel Reese Responds: “Lying on This App”

Reese wasted no time clapping back, and she wasn’t amused.

“Lying on this app when everybody knows the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work,” Reese wrote, throwing cold water on Griffin’s claim of insider support.

She did not name names, but her tweet sent a clear message. Nobody in her camp spoke to Griffin, and she’s calling BS on his version of events.

Griffin, unwilling to let the challenge go unchecked, responded again in defense of his remarks:

“I spoke up in support of Angel Reese against racism not to start drama,” he posted. “But I won’t let anyone twist the truth just because it’s inconvenient to them. Instead of trying to check me, just tighten up your circle. They calling me and saying you hate Caitlin Clark, not the other way around.”

“I have zero interest in being the villain in anyone’s story. I just want to have fun, tell the truth and celebrate sports. But I won’t pretend or lie just to protect feelings.”

The Origin of the Drama: Podcast Commentary and a Heated Debate

The current social media firestorm traces back to an episode of Griffin’s podcast, where he claimed it was “obvious” that Angel Reese harbored a personal dislike for Caitlin Clark, going beyond competitive tension on the court.

Those comments caught fire, not only among fans, but also from other analysts like ESPN’s Ryan Clark, who accused Griffin of lacking empathy and context, especially given that Griffin is married to a White woman. Ryan Clark later apologized for his remarks, but the damage to the discourse had been done.

Griffin’s insistence that he has “basketball evidence” of Reese’s alleged hatred for Clark has fed into an increasingly toxic online climate, where fans of both players clash in racially charged and sexist terms.

The Reese-Clark Rivalry: Magnified and Misused

Reese and Clark, both WNBA All-Stars, have carried their fierce college rivalry from LSU and Iowa into the professional league. Their matchups are highly watched, heavily analyzed, and often tinged with personal and cultural overtones.

While both players have had heated on-court exchanges, neither has confirmed any personal animosity. Yet some fans, particularly Clark’s, have weaponized their support in racially coded ways. Reese, a proud Black woman from Baltimore who has spoken openly about her background and identity, has been the target of repeated attacks for her “attitude,” “trash talk,” and “sportsmanship,” while Clark’s similar behavior is often praised.

The fake NBA 2K image, digitally replacing Reese with a monkey, is just the latest and most egregious example of that double standard.

Racism in Sports: Griffin Issues Final Warning

Despite his own role in stirring the pot, Griffin ended his latest string of posts with an unequivocal message:

“If you hate Angel Reese because she is Black, you are the problem. If you hate Angel Reese because you are a Caitlin Clark fan, don’t turn it racial. There should be no space for racism in this world.”

While his stance against racism was clear, Griffin’s attempt to defend past commentary while simultaneously revealing alleged private conversations did little to calm the waters. Instead, it further inflamed tensions and dragged Reese into another round of online harassment she never asked for.