LaVar Ball offers explanation for his inappropriate remark to ESPN's Molly Qerim
LaVar Ball found himself at the center of controversy this week when he told First Take host Molly Qerim that she could “switch gears” with him anytime.
ESPN responded by condemning Ball’s on-air remarks. And according to a report from The Athletic, Ball had been effectively banned from appearing on ESPN platforms in the future.
Yet, despite LaVar’s willingness to speak out about anything, he had remained quiet all week about his comments to the ESPN personality. That changed on Saturday.
Reporters caught up with LaVar, who was in Los Angeles to watch LaMelo’s Drew League game, and asked him about ESPN’s ban and the backlash to his comments. LaVar dismissed any ill intent behind his words and essentially laughed off Qerim for taking offense to it.
LaVar said:
“How am I gonna be banned? I don’t work for them. I gotta be banned from ESPN? I got my own show.”
He continued when asked about the comment:
“I don’t even have to respond to that on the fact that I meant no sexual intent. Nothing on the fact that ‘switch gears’ means change topics to me. Her mind in the gutter and she think of something else. Only time I hit on her is if she’s breaking in my house, and I mistake her for the boogeyman.”
Following Monday’s airing of First Take, Qerim said that she was satisfied with ESPN’s response to the comments. She added that she would have appreciated if LaVar had apologized publicly to her.