Mother Jones

Before Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers took the court Friday to play the Dallas Mavericks, Allie Clifton, a Fox News Ohio reporter, tried to interview him about his game strategy.

After haphazardly answering one of her questions, Thompson calls her “Tina,” winks at the camera, and then kisses her on the cheek before running away.

Here’s video of the incident:

Contrary to some of the sports media’s reporting, kissing a reporter on air while she is working is not “an unexpected gift” or “harmless, and nothing more than an awkward one-sided exchange.” It’s downright uncomfortable and belittling, even if Clifton maintained utter professionalism throughout. As Kelly Dwyer at Yahoo Sports put it: “This isn’t cute or funny or meme-worthy…Just because you’re working with someone of the opposite sex, it doesn’t mean a sly innuendo, pat on the rear, or kiss on national television is in any way appropriate.”

Jump to original:  

NBA Player Kisses Sideline Reporter, Calls Her the Wrong Name