Update: Charles Barkley Apologizes After Female Reporter Says He Told Her ‘I Don’t Hit Women But If I Did I Would Hit You’

Charles Barkley, Alexi McCammond

Update: Charles Barkley Apologizes After Female Reporter Says He Told Her ‘I Don’t Hit Women But If I Did I Would Hit You’

UPDATE: Charles Barkley has since issued an apology.

A female reporter is calling out Charles Barkley for possibly saying he wanted to hit her. Political reporter Alexi McCammond took to Twitter to accuse the sportscaster and former NBA star Tuesday (Nov. 19).

“Just FYI Charles Barkley told me tonight ‘I don’t hit women but if I did I would hit you,’ and then when I objected to that he told I ‘couldn’t take a joke.'”

She said she’s not typically one to go against the “off-the-record” agreement that journalists make with their subjects, but she said this time she made an exception.

“I hate being part of a story so here’s a reminder that this is so much bigger than me: nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the US. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence https://ncadv.org/statistics“

“It’s not about me or my feelings — tho I’m grateful for the many friends who have reached out. But it’s about refusing to allow this culture to perpetuate because of silence on these issues. It’s easier and less awkward to be silent, but that helps NO ONE but the perpetrator.”

She went on to suggest that Charles Barkley shouldn’t get a pass because he’s famous.

“I encourage you to consider how you’d respond if a friend said something similar to what Barkley said tonight. And then challenge yourself to ask the same of yourself if a stranger (or “celebrity”) said that. I hope the answers are the same. Everyone should be held accountable.”