Anthony Mackie Calls Out Unfair Punishment in ESPYs Opener

Anthony Mackie held nothing back during his monologue as host for the 2021 ESPY Awards on July 10. After roasting NBA star Trae Young’s haircut and Medina Spirit’s trainer, Bob Baffert, the Marvel star took a moment to call out Sha’Carri Richardson’s suspension. “USA Track and Field, how you mess it up, dog? How do you justify banning Sha’Carri Richardson for smoking weed? Weed is a dehancing drug,” the 42-year-old shared. “It doesn’t make you do anything but want to watch another episode of Bob’s Burgers. You never saw Snoop Dogg run anywhere . . . I don’t know how you justify not letting her run.” The 21-year-old athlete is missing the Tokyo Olympics after being suspended by USA Track and Field due to testing positive for marijuana at the Olympic Trials in June.

Sha’Carri wasn’t the only athlete Anthony defended during his speech. “I don’t know how you punish Naomi Osaka for prioritizing her mental health. That’s crazy,” he said of Naomi’s fine and withdrawal from the 2021 French Open. “I’m no tennis exec, I don’t know, but if my sport had one of the most popular and marketable athletes on the planet, you know what I would do? I would probably make sure she felt comfortable and respected. But hey, what do I know, right? I’m just Captain America.” You can watch his full monologue in the video above.

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