“Morning Joe” co-host Mika Brzezinski became the target of online outrage after she criticized tennis star Serena Williams’ on-court behavior during Saturday’s U.S. Open final loss to Japan’s Naomi Osaka.
“I’m really getting sick of the racial insensitivity,” one commenter wrote after Brzezinski weighed in on the matter Monday, noting the moment Williams threw her racket onto the ground during the match and received one of three penalties from chair umpire Carlos Ramos.
“Personally, I don’t think that’s becoming, whether a man does it or a woman does it,” Brzezinski said.
Some experts said the ump overplayed his hand, meanwhile many online detractors suggested the calls against the African-American tennis pro stemmed from racial insensitivity or even sexism.