Fans Outraged Over Jesse Watters’ Fake Role In Caitlin Clark Interview On Fox News, He Drops Bombshell Blaming Caitlin Clark For Treeb Live Tragedy

Fox News is under intense scrutiny after viewers expressed outrage over the network’s decision to allow conservative host Jesse Watters to sit in on an interview with WNBA star Caitlin Clark. The segment, which was intended to celebrate Clark’s historic rookie season and her impact on women’s sports, instead drew widespread criticism for what many called “offensive,” “condescending,” and “inappropriate” questions from Watters.

Clark, who rose to national prominence during her record-breaking college career at the University of Iowa, has been a major driving force behind a surge in popularity for women’s basketball. Her move to the WNBA has sparked unprecedented fan engagement and media coverage, making her one of the most talked-about athletes of the year.

But the interview, aired on Fox News’ primetime lineup Sunday evening, quickly shifted from celebration to controversy when Watters began pressing Clark on topics that critics say were designed to undermine her success and stir political debate.

At one point, Watters asked Clark whether she thought the recent spike in attention to women’s sports was “organic or driven by political correctness and media narratives.” He later questioned whether her success would have received the same recognition “if she were a male athlete in a less ‘trendy’ time.”

The tone of the questioning immediately sparked a backlash online. The hashtag #ProtectCaitlinClark began trending within the hour, as fans, athletes, and media figures condemned both Watters and Fox News for what they viewed as an ambush interview.

“This was supposed to be about celebrating Caitlin Clark — her talent, her hard work, and the way she’s changing the game,” one viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Instead, Jesse Watters made it about his own agenda.”

Former WNBA star and ESPN commentator Rebecca Lobo tweeted, “Caitlin has done more to grow the sport of basketball in one year than most people do in a lifetime. She deserves respect — not loaded questions and political jabs.”

Critics argue that Watters, known for his combative interview style and history of controversial remarks, should never have been involved in the segment. Media analysts called it a deliberate move by Fox News to generate outrage and clickbait rather than conduct a meaningful conversation about sports.

“This was clearly an attempt to politicize a positive sports moment,” said Dr. Mariah Evans, a professor of media ethics at Northwestern University. “Jesse Watters’ presence ensured this was never going to be a neutral or respectful interview.”

Fox News released a short statement Monday morning defending the segment, saying, “Fox News regularly features diverse voices and perspectives. Jesse Watters brought important questions to the conversation regarding media narratives and public perception.” The statement did not directly address the criticism or mention Caitlin Clark.

Sources close to Clark say she was “surprised” by the tone of the interview and had been told the segment would focus primarily on her athletic career and growing influence as a public figure. Despite the awkward and at times uncomfortable moments, Clark remained calm, professional, and composed throughout the interview.

The incident has reignited ongoing conversations about how women in sports are treated by the media — particularly when they reach levels of fame historically reserved for male athletes. Fans and advocates say Clark deserves better from national platforms.

“She’s changing the culture of sports, and what she got in return was disrespect disguised as journalism,” one user posted. “If media outlets want to celebrate her, they need to start by respecting her.”

Whether Fox News will address the controversy further remains to be seen. But for many viewers, the damage has already been done — and they’re making it clear: Caitlin Clark deserves more than political baiting. She deserves respect.