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Charles Barkley Goes Off on ‘Cancel Culture’: ‘You Can’t Even Have Fun Nowadays’

TNT sports analyst and basketball legend Charles Barkley shared his frustration towards “cancel culture” during an interview this week with 106.7 The Fan’s “Grant and Danny” show

During the interview, Barkley notably put his bosses at TNT on blast over cancel culture, noting, “you can’t even have fun nowadays” while covering sports. The former pro athlete states, “You can’t even have fun nowadays without these jacka—es trying to get you canceled and things like that.” 

Barkley also shared, “Just having fun, talking about sports. I’m trying to hang on for another couple [of] years until I’m 60, and then they can kiss my a—.”

Barkley explains he and his colleagues have had fun all these years, but over the past year and a half, everyone is trying to get everyone fired. “They’re coming for your head, and a lot of our bosses are cowards,” Charles says. “They’re like, ‘Context doesn’t matter.’ I said, ‘That’s total BS. Context always has to matter.’ But now, if you crack a joke the wrong way, they’re like, ‘Oh, no, no, no, no. You cross a line.’”

Charles comments that disagreeing with someone nowadays can make things rocky among co-workers, noting his favorite phrase, “Agree to disagree.”

Charles Barkley Going From Pro Athlete to Sports Analyst

Prior to joining TNT, Barkley, who is has the nicknames “Sir Charles” and “the Round Mound of Rebound,” was an 11-time NBA all-star, as well as the 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). He begins his career in the NBA at the Philadelphia 76ers and part of the NBA All-Rook First Time in 1985. He competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games and won two gold medals as a member of the USA “Dream Team.” 

In 2000, Barkley retired as the fourth player in the NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists. Since retiring, Charles has worked at TNT alongside other various NBA superstars, including Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. 

The trio has also enjoyed a few laughs together. For instance, Shaq once massaged Barkley’s cramping leg during an NBA co-hosting gig. Ernie Johnson hilariously asked, “Question, how long will it take for a video to go viral” and quickly answered his own question with, “Probably by the time I got that sentence out of my mouth.”

During a recent interview on The Jim Brockmire Podcast, Charles also revealed he rejected the chance to work in NFL broadcasting.

“I like football. But I ain’t gonna be one of these jacka— get on TV and act like he knows about football,” the basketball player explained. Ultimately, Barkley ended up turning down the offer because of his inexperience in the sport.