Political commentator and podcaster Megyn Kelly feuded via Twitter with tennis star Naomi Osaka; the spat culminated with Osaka delivering an ace.
Last month, Osaka came under scrutiny when she pulled out of the French Open citing issues with anxiety and mental health.
On Monday, the tennis phenom became the first female Black athlete to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
The news prompted a tweet from nationally syndicated radio host Clay Travis to which Kelly responded, “Since saying she’s too introverted to talk to the media after tennis matches, Naomi Osaka has launched a reality show, a Barbie, and now is on the cover of the SI swimsuit issue.”
Osaka did not miss an opportunity to defend herself when she responded, “seeing as you’re a journalist I would’ve assumed you would take the time to research what the lead times are for magazines, if you did that you would’ve found out I shot all of my covers last year,” she wrote to Kelly on Twitter.
The feud ended with Osaka apparently blocking Kelly on Twitter.
“Poor @naomiosaka blocked me while taking a shot at me (guess she’s only tough on the courts),” Kelly wrote in a tweet. “She is apparently arguing that she shot her many covers b/4 publicly claiming she was too socially anxious to deal w/press. Truth is she just doesn’t like Qs she can’t control. Admit it.”
Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, landed the cover of Vogue Japan’s August issue. She also appeared on the front of Vogue Hong Kong’s July 2021 digital issue.
This year’s SI Swimsuit Issue, on sale July 22.
