Lavar Ball is yet again facing another controversy following his inappropriate comments toward sports anchor Molly Qerim Rose. In a segment of “First Take,” Rose attempted to stir the 51-year-old in a different topic saying “Let me just switch gears with you for a…cause I have a question here.”
To which Lavar Ball replied, “You can switch gears with me anytime.” The comment got Rose’s eyebrows raising in shock and surprise but handled the situation professionally, drawing praises from both critics and fans alike.
After the incident, TMZ caught up with the sports anchor and asked her whether or not Lavar Ball has apologized. Rose said that she didn’t receive any apology but did admit that she switched off her phone after work.
For his part, Lavar Ball said that his comment was misconstrued and is standing his ground that it was never intended to be sexual. He even criticized Rose herself for thinking that the comment was sexual in nature.
“Her mind in the gutter if she (was) thinking something else. Only time I hit on her is if she's breaking into my house and I mistake her for the Boogeyman,” Lavar Ball said in this Twitter clip.
However, ESPN said that they’re banning him on all their platforms. Lavar Ball responded that he doesn’t care since he got his show anyway.
This isn’t the first time that the controversial father landed in hot water due to his words. In 2017, Lavar Ball told Fox Sports 1’s Kristine Leahy to essentially mind her own business after she asked him how many shoes Big Baller Brand has sold.
Show host Colin Cowherd attempted to deescalate the situation by pointing out that Leahy was merely doing her job as a reporter. Lavar Ball responded with “she can report to whoever she wants behind her.” As for what people are thinking about the situation, opinions have been mixed. Some are siding with Ball and are saying that he merely wanted to switch subjects. Others are saying that it was indeed inappropriate, especially with the setting that they were currently on.
