Women’s boxing icon Claressa Shields offers clarification on controversial tweet shading Angel Reese’s BET Awards nod

Women’s boxing icon Claressa Shields on Friday offered clarification on her controversial tweet shading Angel Reese. In June, Shields lashed out at the Chicago Sky star after she was overlooked for the BET Sportswoman of the Year award.

During an appearance on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, host Shannon Sharpe asked Shields if she was “upset” about Angel getting the nod from BET. The two-time Olympic gold medalist denied she was upset and took the opportunity to clarify her earlier comments.

“I hate when they tell stories that really piss me off. They want to spin everything and make it into something negative. I love what she does,” Shields said.

Continuing to offer clarity, Shields asserted that his comments were “not knocking anyone else.”

“It was my first time being nominated for the Sportswoman of the Year award with BET and I just thought I won it,” Shields continued. “The only one who won an Olympic gold medal there was Simone Biles. So I figure either she’s going to get it or I’m going to get it. So it wasn’t a blow to any of the other girls.”

Shields’ clarification was in reference to the tweet she posted after Reese was named BET Sportswoman of the Year. At the time, the Olympian questioned the decision and took a slight jab at Reese.

“I still don’t know why I didn’t win Sportswoman of the Year at the @BETAwards, but congratulations to Angel Reese and all the other nominees. I thought the accolades mattered,” she said via X (formerly Twitter)

However, despite her previous comments, Shields clarified things during her appearance at Club Shay Shay, saying she has a lot of respect for Reese.

Claressa Shields once made her case for the BET Sportswoman of the Year award, saying she had “more accolades” than Angel Reese.

Clareesa Shields didn’t hold back after Angel Reese won the BET Sportswoman of the Year award in June. The boxer expressed her disapproval on X (formerly Twitter), openly questioning Reese’s credentials for receiving the honor.

The tweet sparked a response from a fan who argued that Reese also had “honors.” This only pushed Shields further, as she fired back by questioning who really had the greatest list of accomplishments.

“Yes, but who has more accolades…. More success in their field. Please use Google before answering,” Shields remarked.

Despite her initial frustration, Shields has since spoken positively about Reese on several occasions, while also offering a clarification on her tweet.