Carrington clarifies 'white privilege' post after ejection backlash
DiJonai Carrington responded to criticism of her social media post following her ejection from a Sky-Fever game, stating she never claimed the foul assessment itself was based on white privilege. Former NFL star Emmanuel Acho and opposing player Sophie Cunningham both disputed the characterization.
DiJonai Carrington was ejected from the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever after committing a hard foul on Sophie Cunningham. The 28-year-old posted 'white privilege' on social media, tagging the Fever, and the statement drew swift criticism from former NFL star Emmanuel Acho and from Cunningham herself.
Carrington responded on X (Twitter), pushing back on what she characterized as a misreading of her intent. According to BBC Sport, she stated: 'I've never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was white privilege [that was your assumption].'
Acho had criticized the post on the Speakeasy podcast, according to BBC Sport, saying 'It was not a race-based decision' and calling her suggestion 'very ignorant and, to some degree, asinine.' He noted that the foul hit Cunningham in the head, drew blood, and did not connect with the ball.
In her response, Carrington wrote: 'I'm the last thing from ignorant or asinine when it comes to speaking on white privilege, do ya research on that one. I actually went to school, one of the top universities might I add, to educate myself on this exact subject.' She continued, per BBC Sport: 'I would never use that term as a rhetorical weapon knowing the historical and social weight it holds without having the proper evidence to substantiate it.'
Cunningham rejected any racial framing of the ejection. According to BBC Sport, she said: 'I think the league is taking care of that. This has nothing to do with race. Last year, I did the same thing and I got kicked out, and I deserved to be kicked out. There's no reason even to play that card.'
The Sky lost the game. Carrington joined Chicago in April, per BBC Sport.
Carrington stated on X: 'I've never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was white privilege [that was your assumption].'
Carrington's statement clarifies what she did not claim, but the sources do not document what she intended to communicate by tagging the Fever with the phrase. The dispute over whether invoking 'white privilege' in sports criticism is appropriate or grounded continues in the commentary, but neither Acho's nor Cunningham's objections address Carrington's underlying intent.
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Sources
Single-source report. As published, only BBC Sport had reported this development. No independent outlet had corroborated it.
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