Dez Bryant tweeted a seemingly innocent joke on Wednesday, but it resulted in the star wide receiver getting into a bit of a spat with one of ESPN’s biggest on-air personalities.
Earlier in the week, a woman tweeted that Bryant had come into her Blaze Pizza location and left her a $75 tip. She joked that she still hates the Cowboys despite the kind gesture, and Dez played along.
I won't be having blaze pizza at that location again lmao https://t.co/igsjiBUk9J
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) August 23, 2017
Either the obvious sarcasm was lost on her or she simply wanted to seize the opportunity to make a point, but ESPN’s Jemele Hill criticized Bryant for taking a stand against Blaze Pizza and not more important issues.
But won't take a stand against … nevermind .. https://t.co/KvL8RDLWJ5
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 24, 2017
Bryant couldn’t let it slide.
She part of the media.. 9-10x she will know the fact..instead ride the wave..it's not that serious..go boycott your job and tell me about it https://t.co/efwKWnjQ7P
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) August 24, 2017
Hill was referring to Bryant’s recent comments about national anthem protests, in which he basically said he would rather keep quiet and earn his paycheck than join a social justice movement. Hill later said she was only joking, though she admitted there was truth behind it.
I know you were joking. As was I. Truth in every joke, as you know. https://t.co/BbEHpP3ZI0
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 24, 2017
My official position (as I said on the show): Dez is free to not speak out or protest, but don't undermine those that do. https://t.co/guoKj4unAm
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 24, 2017
Bryant is under constant scrutiny, and he brings a lot of it on himself. It seems that Hill and others believe he would have been better off saying nothing at all about national anthem protests, which is the route many players have chosen to take. Either way, using his joke about Blaze Pizza as a conversation starter seemed uncalled for.
