Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Charles Barkley Sparks Debate After Claiming Politicians Stoke Racial Tensions To 'Divide And Conquer'

Charles Barkley Sparks Debate After Claiming Politicians Stoke Racial Tensions To 'Divide And Conquer'
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

NBA legend and sports commentator Charles Barkley has developed a reputation for outspokenness. His commentary over the weekend has once again sparked controversy.

During coverage of this weekend's CBS Final Four college basketball tournament, Barkley claimed politicians of both parties actively stoke racial tensions in order to "divide and conquer."


His comments were immediately seized upon by right-wingers seeking to paint Democrats as racists and by left-wingers angered by what they saw as Barkley placating racists with a "both sides" false equivalency.

Barkley's comments came following a segment that covered Democratic politician Robert F. Kennedy's appearance at the 1968 NCAA championship, held in Indianapolis like this year's, to announce that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated.

When asked for a response, Barkley delivered his pointed rebuke of American politicians.

"I think most White people and Black people are great people. I really believe that in my heart."
"But I think our system is set up where our politicians, whether they are Republicans or Democrats, are designed to make us not like each other so they can keep their grasp of money and power. They divide and conquer."

Barkley went on to say "we're so stupid" to follow politicians of either party, who he cast as craven opportunists.

"...whether they are Republicans or Democrats ... their only job is, 'Hey, let's make these people not like each other'."
"'We don't live in their neighborhoods. We all got money. Let's make the Whites and Blacks not like each other. Let's make rich people and poor people not like each other. Let's scramble the middle class'."
"I truly believe that in my heart."

Many felt Barkley's comments hued all too closely to the "both sides" rhetoric of former Republican President Donald Trump and other far-right ideologues, who routinely accuse Democrats and liberals of being the "real racists" in America.

Perhaps proving their point, Barkley's comments only drew viral praise from right-wingers, especially those on the far-right.







Pushback was all Barkley's comments earned from others.






Barkley has previously hinted at political ambitions, including potentially running for Governor of Alabama. It seems populism might be his chosen ideology.

More from Trending

Screenshot of Stephen Colbert
CBS

Stephen Colbert Makes Somber Plea To Americans In Wake Of Charlie Kirk's Death

Late-night host Stephen Colbert had a somber message for Americans as he addressed the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, stressing that "political violence only leads to more political violence."

Kirk died after an unidentified gunman shot him in the neck as he—ironically enough—mocked victims of gun violence at an event in Utah Valley State University. Kirk's murder has galvanized the far-right, with President Donald Trump and his surrogates claiming without evidence that rhetoric from Democrats is responsible for Kirk's death.

Keep ReadingShow less
a woman sunbathing on rocks.
a person sitting on a towel on a beach
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

People Share The Weirdest Flexes They Heard Someone Say With A Straight Face

It is never attractive to gloat.

Even so, some people can't help but brag, or "flex" as it is sometimes known, about certain accomplishments or attributes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @thedowntheredoc's TikTok video
@thedowntheredoc/TikTok

TikToker Hilariously Calls Out Target After Champion Pants Feature Awkwardly-Placed Front Pleat

Sometimes you can just tell when something was designed *for* women, but was not actually designed *by* women.

Take, for instance, the new pleated pants available at Target from the Champion clothing line. While there's nothing wrong with pleated pants and they certainly have a suitable spot in the workplace, the latest rendition of Champion pleated pants are, shall we say, NSFW.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @kaicutch's Instagram video
@kaicutch/Instagram

Woman Flips Her Car After Belting Out Ironic Britney Spears Lyric In Wild Viral Video

Whether we want to admit it or not, we've all had our fair share of carpool karaoke and maybe even imagined our car as our own personal recording studio.

But TikToker and Instagrammer Kaitlynn McCutcheon may have gotten too into her performance of Britney Spears' classic, "Hit Me Baby, One More Time," when the road and her car both said, "Bet."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from ​@lynnshazeen's TikTok video
@lynnshazeen/TikTok

Woman Goes Viral After Revealing How Her Obsession With Matcha Landed Her In The Hospital

Let's be honest: Too much of anything isn't good for us. It's all about the balance!

But the media and social media trends have taught us that certain things are really good for us, encouraging us to be like the "very mindful and very demure" girls and take care of ourselves. One such example is drinking more matcha, especially if you really like coffee or think you have a caffeine addiction.

Keep ReadingShow less