Michelle Obama's Media Advice To Angel Reese Comes Off Poorly

Angel Reese doesn't always like dealing with the media. In fact, the WNBA star will openly admit to skipping on interviews and accepting fines from the league, rather than dealing with the press when she doesn't want to.

"The media has not always been great for me. And I'll take a fine. I'll catch a fine, especially in a WNBA. I'll have a fine before I have to go to media and feel like my back is against the wall," Reese said on Michelle Obama's podcast last week.

Michelle Obama agreed with Reese's thinking, previously comparing ESPN to a reality TV show, and encouraging the WNBA star to do what's best for her.

WNBA players are required by their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to speak with the media following games. Players can be fined $10,000 for violating the mandate.

Reese is willing to do so and Obama appears to be encouraging her to do so when necessary.

"I think the tough thing is the social media element to it. But that's true across the board. I mean, we've talked about this on our show; it just takes a normal occurrence. These young kids today, what they have to go through, what they have to be able to withstand, because social media is such a huge part of the world," Obama said of Angel Reese and the media.

"There's the hate. But now the hate is in your room, on your phone with you all the time. And you can't, for whatever reason, tell these kids to turn it off, because they're making their living that way. I mean, now they are expected to stay engaged.

"So, I think that makes it feel even worse. But I think, as you point out, that's happening in sports across gender. It's just harder not to withstand other people's horrible, horrible opinions."

Michelle Obama made it clear she's not the biggest ESPN fan.

"It's all a sociological study. They think that sports is better reality TV, I'm like, ‘It's the same thing.' If I listen to ESPN for an hour, it's like watching the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,' you know?" Obama said. "It's the same drama, and they're yelling at each other and they don't get along, you know?"

Michelle Obama isn't wrong about social media, but ducking reporter interviews is wrong

If WNBA players need to stay off social media for their mental health, that's understandable.

But players should not be encouraged to skip out on media interviews after games. The WNBA is a growing league. With more attention, comes more criticism. That's just part of being a professional athlete.

You can't want all of the attention and not get the scrutiny, too. Professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. all face constant media scrutiny. WNBA players need to get used to that, as well, as their league continues to grow.

Michelle Obama should encourage Angel Reese to be a leading voice in the media, and not duck out on interviews.

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