Addison Rae seems to have pissed off every single sports journalist on earth by posting a tweet of herself holding a microphone in front of an Ultimate Fighting Championship banner ahead of tonight’s UFC 264 with the caption “I studied broadcast journalism in college for 3 whole months to prepare for this moment.”
Yes, the caption is terrible. And yes, sports media is a competitive, expensive, exhausting grind that very few outside the ‘big J journalist’ bubble understand. But do we really think that Addison Rae got this opportunity based on the one class she took at LSU? Of course not. Addison Rae has 82 million followers on TikTok alone, and just like when UFC commissioner Dana White used comedian Joe Rogan to help grow the brand in the early days off MMA, the purpose of her presence is to expose the UFC to her massive and impressionable swarm of not-yet-able-to-rent-a-car followers.
Dog: Sports Journalism Twitter
— the Unafraid Show with George Wrighster (@UnafraidShow) July 10, 2021
Cat on the left: Addison Rae
Cat on the right: Anybody thinking of taking out student loans to get into sports journalism
https://t.co/cSOBP1rcWk
Here’s UnafraidShow boss man George Wrighster weighing in on the controversy:
Here are some of the salty, and thoughtful, takes from our friends in the media:
Imagine spending four years in college plus unpaid internships plus reporter/producer/editor/photog jobs that pay next to nothing to even have the SHOT at a better job
— Steve Benko (@SteveBenko) July 10, 2021
…and all it takes for Addison Rae is TikTok and three months of college to be ahead of you. https://t.co/U01hx6tgGT
To aspiring journalists devastated/frustrated over this … you will see many who land a “sweet gig” for various reasons – not always deserved. Look away & keep focused on what YOU’RE building – a career. What’s easy won’t last – and what lasts isn’t easy. Keep growing…keep going https://t.co/e1baSgxvmg
— Laura Okmin (@LauraOkmin) July 10, 2021
The amount of complaining in the replies is insane.
— Jack Mac (@JackMacCFB) July 10, 2021
If you studied broadcast journalism and are surprised a celebrity is “taking your job” you went into the wrong field bucko. https://t.co/CgT3IDV8RK
If only they told me all I had to do was record myself doing sub-par dance moves to overplayed music in order to make millions. Instead I started out working 12 hour days for $12/hr😂 https://t.co/8KDvDeeFo1
— Claudia Bellofatto (@CBellofattoTV) July 10, 2021
As a journalist who would LOVE that opportunity, I could say something…
— Connor DelPrete (@Connor_DelPrete) July 10, 2021
But I won't
I don't want the Addison Rae Hive coming after me. I fear the Addison Rae Hive. https://t.co/1xLhdJIPW8
This caption is so lame and just a big slap in the face to all the people in the industry who put the work in for years/applied to hundreds of jobs to get where they are at but hey I guess I'll go back to yelling at clouds 🤷♂️ https://t.co/KveVIntKnt
— Eric Kelly (@EricKellyTV) July 10, 2021
I wish I was attractive enough to get whatever I wanted just for dancing in front of a camera. https://t.co/2YHcCnlDme
— Joseph Herff (@JosephHerffNFL) July 10, 2021
Apparently humility wasn’t part of the curriculum. https://t.co/dOnGKtUZsa
— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) July 10, 2021