Pat McAfee Speaks Out on Death Threats He’s Received amid University of Utah Controversy

Pat McAfee
Credit: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Pat McAfee is sharing his perspective after receiving death threats
• The ESPN personality made comments this week about feeling unsafe while filming College GameDay
• McAfee referenced the shooting death of Charlie Kirk in his remarks about visiting the University of Utah

Pat McAfee is shedding new light on death threats he says he has received in the wake of comments he made regarding his safety.

On X the night of Wednesday, Oct. 28, the ESPN personality, 39, shared a lengthy statement about his current mindset nearly one week after his College GameDay visit to the University of Utah which resulted in him feeling “uncomfortable” and unsafe.

“I’ve stayed away from my mentions and DM’s this month since these back to back days but.. I’m sure if I went in there now, I’d find some wishes for and threats of death for me,” McAfee, 40, wrote in part.

In his post, however, McAfee shared two separate threats he said he received, which he described as “fun screenshots.”

“I’m trying my best in real time but.. I am to talk about sports and care about the future of sports,” he continued. “I owe everything to sports. I’m grateful as hell to do what I do. I literally try to love every minute of the incredible opportunities I get to experience but.. it’s certainly all a much different life than I could’ve ever expected.”

Earlier this week, McAfee spoke out about his experience filming the network’s flagship college sports show last weekend in Utah.

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In advance of McAfee’s arrival in Salt Lake City, the university shared a video of students doing impressions of the polarizing sportscaster.

“Did not enjoy University of Utah,” McAfee said on The Pat McAfee Show two days later. “You know why I didn’t like it mostly? Right before I go out there, I see the University of Utah’s Instagram page. They put out, do an impression of Pat McAfee, and one kid goes, ‘Ah, he’s corny.’ Another kid calls me creepy.”

He continued, “If these kids would have done this on their own blogs, all good. Everybody’s taking shots at me, anyways, for everything. I get it. If the two ladies that were hosting that put that out on their own blog, I’d be okay with it. You’re allowed to do what you do.”

The university later issued an apology for the video.

Pat McAfee
Credit: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire/Getty

In his post on X Wednesday, McAfee also cleared up reports that the FBI had suggested he wear a bulletproof vest after the shooting of Charlie Kirk.

“I don’t think it was the FBI that suggested the Bullet Proof Vest, but it was certainly an idea presented by one of the security groups,” he wrote. “We had no idea what to expect. Nobody had been in that type of situation before.”

ESPN said in a statement that it safety and security of its “on-air team, crew and fans is paramount.”

“We are committed to ensuring a safe environment, and given the very real threats that members of our team face, we take issues involving their safety seriously. We support Pat and recognize the very real and valid concerns he has around safety and security.”

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Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.