Naomi Osaka Responds To Backlash From Megyn Kelly For ‘Sports Illustrated’ Cover: Do Better! + Blocks Kelly On Twitter

July 20, 2021 by Nick Fenley in Sports with 0 Comments

Naomi Osaka Responds To Backlash From Megyn Kelly For ‘Sports Illustrated’ Cover: Do Better! + Blocks Kelly On Twitter

Naomi Osaka has no time for negativity!

Yesterday (Monday, July 19th), Naomi Osaka‘s photoshoot for Sport Illustrated Swimsuit‘s 2021 edition was revealed. She is the first Black female athlete to be featured on the swimsuit cover, and she is also the first Haitian-Japanese woman to do so.

However, controversial journalist and commentator Megyn Kelly has chimed in with her thoughts. She quote tweeted Clay Travis–another journalist and commentator–who called out Naomi Osaka for doing the cover shoot despite her claims about wanting to avoid the media.

As previously reported, Naomi Osaka skipped press interviews at the French Open earlier this year. She said she was doing so to protect her mental health and wellbeing. However, she was later fined for her decision, causing her to ultimately withdraw.

In her tweet, Megyn Kelly agreed with Clay Travis‘ critique of Naomi Osaka. Additionally, she mentioned the fact that Naomi Osaka was featured on the covers of Vogue Japan and Time, seemingly attempting to invalidate the athlete’s claims about the media.

A few hours after Megyn Kelly‘s tweet, Naomi Osaka issued a response. In her now-deleted tweet, she wrote:

“Seeing as you’re a journalist I would’ve assumed you would take the time to research what the lead times are for magazines, if you did that you would’ve found out I shot all of my covers last year. Instead your first reaction is to hop on here and spew negativity, do better Megan [sic].”

The athlete proceeded to block Megyn Kelly immediately after. In response, Megyn Kelly tweeted:

“Poor @naomiosaka blocked me while taking a shot at me (guess she’s only tough on the courts). She is apparently arguing that she shot her many covers b/4 publicly claiming she was too socially anxious to deal w/press. Truth is she just doesn’t like Qs she can’t control. Admit it.”