‘Creepy’ Caitlin Clark reporter Gregg Doyel makes a quick return to work and reveals he met with Indianapolis Colts GM today… but he is instantly slammed by social media trolls: ‘Why are you still employed?’
It was business as usual for Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel when he returned to work Friday — despite a continued barrage of abuse over his awkward moment with basketball star Caitlin Clark.
Doyel went viral after making a series of cringe-worthy comments about the Indiana Fever No. 1 pick during her introductory press conference, first asking if she would make her traditional heart-shaped gesture to him before the game.
He then referred to Clark as “it” and “that” during questions directed at coach Christie Sides, and in the aftermath was labeled a “sexist pervert” by Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports.
The pile-up continued on Friday as Doyel tried to continue working normally, revealing on social media that he had met with an NFL general manager.
He told X, “Colts GM Chris Ballard just met with us to discuss the upcoming NFL draft. He said a few things. #columncoming’
Gregg Doyel, pictured earlier, was back at work Friday during a meeting with Colts NFL personnel
He went viral for his “rude” comments to Caitlin Clark during her introductory press conference
Doyel was back on social media on Friday afternoon to keep his followers updated on his work
He was quickly mocked for his comments by social media users in the replies to his tweet
Immediately, Doyel’s mentions were flooded with comments from social media trolls, with one asking, “Why are you still employed?”
Another added: “Just sit here for a minute brother,” while one said: “Did you ask him to show you the heart?”
In a further reply to his tweet, a basketball fan asked him, “Did you refer to him as ‘that’ and ‘it’.
It’s been a rough few days for the longtime sportscaster after his moment of madness at Clark’s press conference.
He started by imitating the celebratory hand gesture Clark gives to her family after each game in which she makes the shape of a heart with her hands.
“I do that with my family after every game,” Clark said.
The gesture Clark makes at the end of games can be seen here, as the former Iowa star smiles
Clark (left) and Fever coach Christie Sides were stunned by the Indy Star’s Doyel
Doyel has apologized on social media and in a column since Wednesday’s incident
Doyel says he met with Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard (above) on Friday.
Doyel then made the most regrettable comment of the press conference: “Okay, listen, just do it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
Furthermore, he then referred to the WNBA sensation as “that” and “it” during a question directed at coach Sides.
“You just got the keys to that,” he told Sides, referring to Clark as if she were a sports car. ‘What are you going to do with it?’
Sides responded by humanizing Clark: “Hopefully we’ll win a lot of games to start with. She will help us with that.’
Spokespeople for the Indy Star and its parent company, Gannett, did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Doyel has since apologized online.
Dave Portnoy branded Doyel a ‘sexist pervert’ on social media after Clark’s press conference
Doyel (right) is pictured next to one of his two sons after graduating
“Today in my uniquely silly way, as I welcomed @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I cupped my hands in her signature,” the reporter wrote on X.
‘My comment afterwards was clumsy and uncomfortable. My sincere apologies. Please know that my heart (literally and figuratively) meant well. I’ll do better.’
The most high-profile criticism of the awkward interaction came from Barstool’s Portnoy, who labeled Doyel a “sexist pervert” and demanded his employer take action.
“Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever career begins with Gregg Doyel as the sexiest pervert at the introductory press conference,” Portnoy wrote. ‘@IndyStarSports do something about this pervert.
“To clarify, I wanted to call Gregg Doyle a sexist pervert. He bases that on his sickening actions today,” Portnoy later added.
Portnoy wasn’t the only one outraged by Doyel’s comments; several other prominent voices in the industry publicly criticized the reporter’s comments.
Clark signs autographs for fans at the 2024 WNBA Draft on April 15 before being selected
The young basketball star seized the moment and didn’t seem fazed by it
CBS Sports’ Katie Mox said, “What happened to Caitlin Clark today at her first press conference in Indy was truly disgusting.”
CBC Sports senior contributor Shireen Ahmed even suggested Doyel should be stripped of his credentials.
“Almost all of my female colleagues and students in sports media and sports journalism share that segment of Gregg Doyel and Caitlin Clark with disgust,” Ahmed wrote on X.
‘We are rightly angry and have had enough. His credo should be withdrawn and offered to an untitled journalist who respects women.”