Fox Sports commentator Skip Bayless is facing a severe amount of backlash after he criticized Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for admitting he had depression in wake of his brother’s suicide.
Prescott made the revelation recently in an interview with Graham Bensinger. In March, Jace Prescott died by suicide at age 31. The quarterback said the death, along with the isolation of the coronavirus pandemic, left him depressed — leading him to seek therapy. Prescott encouraged others to take their mental health seriously.
Prescott said Thursday that he sought help from his family and the Cowboys.
On Thursday, Bayless said that he felt no sympathy for the quarterback.
“I have deep compassion for clinical depression, but when it comes to the quarterback of an NFL team, you know this better than I do, it’s the ultimate leadership position in sports, am I right about that?” Bayless said on “Undisputed,” the Fox Sports show that he hosts with Shannon Sharpe. “You are commanding an entire franchise … And they’re all looking to you to be their CEO, to be in charge of the football team.
“Because of all that, I don’t have sympathy for him going public with, ’I got depressed’ and ’I suffered depression early in COVID to the point that I couldn’t even go work out.’ Look, he’s the quarterback of America’s team.”
Fox Sports said Thursday that Prescott showed courage in revealing his struggles and does not agree with Bayless.
“We do not agree with Skip Bayless’ opinion on Undisputed this morning. We have addressed the significance of this matter with Skip and how his insensitive comments were received by people internally at Fox Sports and our audience,” the statement said.
Bayless’ comments led to heavy criticism on social media:
Dak Prescott’s honesty about battling depression after his brother’s death will not only help countless people; it makes him a *stronger* leader, because of his authenticity and vulnerability.
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) September 10, 2020
To say otherwise is a garbage opinion at best, and a dangerous one at worst.
Horrified to see Skip Bayless’ comments about Dak Prescott’s grief and depression following his brother’s suicide. He clearly misunderstands depression, but he also misunderstands leadership. Prescott *is* being a leader by showing his vulnerability, in my opinion.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) September 10, 2020
Dak Prescott basically said: I’m a human being, I can be vulnerable at times. It’s been a really hard year for me, & I want to normalize mental wellness & admitting when we aren’t OK.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) September 10, 2020
And Skip Bayless basically said: nah, toxic masulinity is the way for me b/c football.
Clown.
What Skip Bayless said today is the reason why there’s a stigma about depression. It’s the reason why people are afraid to open up.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) September 10, 2020
Don’t listen to him.
It takes so much strength to open up about depression, like Dak Prescott did. It’s OK to not be OK. It’s OK to get help.
I have battled depression for my entire life, and it is a silent killer.
— John Ellis (@OnePantherPlace) September 10, 2020
Luckily, I’m still standing, but many don’t make it through.
This is a woefully insensitive and horrible take by Skip Bayless.
pic.twitter.com/vDZy6qONQR
Make no mistake: Skip Bayless criticizing Dak about coming forward with his depression is the same exact oppressive, demeaning, racist sentiment as “shut up and dribble”
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) September 10, 2020
You really just said it’s ok to be depressed unless your the QB for the Dallas Cowboys…please do better as a human @RealSkipBayless
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) September 10, 2020
Skip needs to apologize.
— Stephen A. Smith Burner (@SASBurnerAcct) September 10, 2020
Dak had the courage to share he had Depression because of COVID + his brother’s suicide and you basically say you’re a QB on “America’s Team” so you can’t be sad? He’s a human.
It’s literally World Suicide Prevention Day do better @RealSkipBayless
Some bullsh*t that @RealSkipBayless came with re @dak. Man opened up about a real issue that’s affecting so many in our society. I thought we want our athletes to be open & honest…CLOWN 🤦🏾♂️
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) September 10, 2020
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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