One-time Boston Celtics legend and current ESPN talking head Paul Pierce sparked controversy this week after publishing a bizarre video to Instagram.
For reasons nobody quite knows or comprehends, Pierce went on Instagram Live late Friday night and showed off himself throwing down with a bunch of strippers.
In the video Pierce could also be seen playing poker, smoking, and drinking with some friends.
For obvious reasons, the video immediately went viral.
After the fact, multiple NBA players came out and reacted to Pierce’s lapse in judgement.
Among them: Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Paul pierce a sicko 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— kuz (@kylekuzma) April 3, 2021
Forgot to hit that close friends 🥴😂
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) April 3, 2021
P wildinnnn 😂😂😂😂
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) April 3, 2021
😂😂😂😂 it’s too early bro https://t.co/7C6bMDHU18
— Cassius Winston (@cassiuswinston) April 3, 2021
It remains to be seen whether ESPN will ultimately punish Pierce or not.
For what it’s worth, earlier this year another NBA analyst for the network, Jackie MacMullan, sparked controversy with racist commentary about Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving. Many wondered if she’d get fired – but she didn’t.
If ESPN came out and now fired Pierce for having fun after not doing the same to MacMullan for a more egregious offense it’d be a terrible look.
Deshaun Watson’s girlfriend with the extra cryptic post.https://t.co/RHO5BVbWUb
— Game 7 (@game7__) April 2, 2021
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
