Overview

Angel Reese Taunts Caitlin Clark "You Can't See Me" refers to LSU Tigers basketball player Angel Reese taunting Iowa Hawkeyes player Caitlin Clark by doing John Cena's You Can't See Me taunt at her, then pointing to her ring finger, shortly before winning the national title game in March 2023. The video went viral online shortly after and inspired mixed reactions, with some (such as Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports) purportedly calling Reese "classless" for doing the taunt. Others defended Reese, pointing out that Clark did what appears to be the same taunt during a game before this without receiving backlash, while some claimed that the difference in reaction was hypocritical and potentially racist.

History

Caitlin Clark Taunts

On March 27th, 2023, the Iowa Hawkeyes won against Louisville and Hawkeyes player Caitlin Clark set a record, sending the Hawkeyes to the women's college basketball Final Four for the first time since 1993.^[1] During the game, Clark did John Cena's "You Can't See Me" taunt at player Hailey Van Lith. The clip went viral on Twitter^[2][3] and was largely celebrated, including by John Cena on March 28th, who posted the clip to Twitter^[4] (shown below) writing, "Even if they could see you…they couldn’t guard you! Congrats on the historic performance @CaitlinClark22 and to @IowaWBB on advancing to the Final Four," garnering over 17,000 likes in six days.

Even if they could see you…they couldn’t guard you! Congrats on the historic performance CaitlinClark22</a> and to <a href="https://twitter.com/IowaWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">IowaWBB on advancing to the Final Four! @MarchMadnessWBB #WFinalFour https://t.co/QvpYDTESwb

— John Cena (@JohnCena) March 28, 2023

On March 31st, the Iowa Hawkeyes then played against and defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks. That night, a clip of Caitlin Clark waving off Gamecocks player Raven Johnson and leaving her unguarded went viral (shown below). Johnson decided to pass the ball to another player rather than go for the 3-pointer. The wave-off was reported as "hilarious disrespect" by ForTheWin.^[5]

Angel Reese Taunts Caitlin Clark

On April 2nd, 2023, the LSU Tigers played against the Iowa Hawkeyes and won with a score of 102 to 85, winning the National Championship.^[6] As the game was nearing completion, Angel Reese flashed John Cena's "You Can't See Me" taunt at Caitlin Clark, which quickly went viral on social media. For example, that day, the Twitter^[7] page @BleacherReport shared the clip, writing, "This is cold by Angel Reese 😬," garnering over 21,000 likes in a day (shown below).

This is cold by Angel Reese 😬 pic.twitter.com/vZHOZTQHRh

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 2, 2023

After the game, Reese was then interviewed by ESPN, during which she talked about the taunt. In the interview, she praises Cailin Clark's playing, but says she "doesn't take disrespect lightly" and says she did the taunt because Clark disrespected Alexis Morris, who previously accused Clark of disrespectful defense to USA Today,^[8] and Gamecocks player Raven Johnson (shown below).

"I don't take disrespect lightly."Angel Reese on her celebration in front of Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/IxrdUz1ae6

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 2, 2023

Online Reactions

Dave Portnoy / Angel Reese "Classless" Debate

On April 2nd, 2023, as the video of Reese doing the "You Can't See Me" taunt went viral, Twitter^[9] user @stoolpresidente (aka Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports) posted, "Angel Reese #classless," garnering over 10,000 likes in a day (shown below).

Portnoy received some backlash for the tweet, inspiring him to tweet several more times clarifying why he thinks the move was classless.

Later that night, he tweeted,^[10] "Angel Reese is #classless it's because she taunted Clark with 10 seconds left in a game that was long over," garnering over 26,000 likes in a day (shown below, left). About 10 minutes later he quote-retweeted^[11] a user sharing the clip of Clark doing the same taunt, suggesting it's the same thing. Portnoy responded, "No not even close. Are you brain dead. #classless Angel Reese basically chased the best player in the game to the locker room to taunt her," garnering over 8,200 likes in a day (shown below, right).

On April 2nd, 2023, Twitter^[12] user @ariivory then posted a clip of Reese talking about the taunt at a post-game conference, saying, "when other people do it, y'all don't say nothing. So this was for the girls that look like me, that's gonna speak up for what they believe in, it's unapologetically you […] It was bigger than me tonight. Twitter is going to go on a rage every time and I mean, I'm happy." That night, Reese posted a screenshot of herself doing the taunt to her Twitter^[13] page @Reese10Angel, garnering over 162,000 likes in a day (shown below).

On April 2nd, Twitter user and football player @EmmanuelAcho posted a video to Twitter^[14] of Clark and Reese doing the taunts, writing, "If it wasn’t 'classless' when Caitlin Clark did it, don’t call it classless when Angel Reese does it. Let the women compete, it’s sports!!" garnering over 128,000 likes in a day. Portnoy continued to defend his stance on Twitter. Also on April 2nd, he posted a clip to Twitter^[15] suggesting Reese's taunting was worse, garnering over 36,000 likes in a day (shown below).

"But they did the same thing!"-brain dead people #WFinalFour pic.twitter.com/Fn9XLrPtk6

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) April 3, 2023

Later that day he then quote-retweeted^[16] Reese's post sharing the screenshot of her doing the taunt, writing, "See I actually respect Angel embracing being #classless. She doesn't need people defending her. She is owning it. Every movie needs a villain," garnering over 4,000 likes in a day.

Also on April 2nd, 2023, Twitter^[17] user @Flour_Ranger posted a Family Guy Skin Color Chart meme about the controversy, suggesting the difference in reactions was racist, garnering over 24,000 likes in a day (shown below).

Search Interest

External References