VICE TV has greenlit a new anthology docuseries titled "Everybody Hates," which will feature WNBA star Caitlin Clark in the same series as athletes known for significant controversies, including criminal convictions and domestic abuse allegations. The six-episode series, exclusively reported by Variety, examines how certain athletes become polarizing cultural symbols. Clark’s episode is scheduled to air on November 10, placing her alongside figures such as Michael Vick, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Aaron Rodgers, Jake Paul, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The series description states that it asks not whether these athletes deserve the hate they receive, but rather "how did they become the people millions love, millions hate, and almost everyone has an opinion about?" VICE TV President Pete Gaffney noted that the project aims to look "beyond the headlines to examine how these figures became symbols of much larger cultural conversations," arguing that today's athletes are judged in real time before full context is understood.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive commentators and supporters of Clark have expressed concern that grouping the Indiana Fever star with athletes convicted of serious crimes diminishes the context of her public reception. Critics argue that Clark’s controversy stems primarily from her dominance in women’s basketball and the subsequent debates over player safety and racial dynamics in the WNBA, rather than personal misconduct. They point to incidents such as the flagrant foul by Chennedy Carter and the suspension of Alyssa Thomas for driving a fist into Clark’s throat as evidence that the league’s safety protocols, not Clark’s character, are the subject of scrutiny.
Advocates for women’s sports highlight that Clark’s visibility has driven record viewership and ticket sales for the WNBA, suggesting that the "hate" she receives is often a reflection of broader societal resistance to women’s basketball gaining mainstream traction. They argue that the docuseries framing risks conflating high-profile on-court aggression directed at Clark with the off-court criminal behavior of other subjects in the series.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative voices and sports commentators have pointed to the inclusion of Clark in the series as validation of their long-standing critique that her public persona and media coverage have generated significant backlash. Many on the right have argued that Clark’s dominance, combined with perceived entitlement and media favoritism, has contributed to a cultural divide in sports fandom. The series’ premise that athletes are "polarizing figures" resonates with critics who have noted the intense debate surrounding her treatment on the court and the political commentary it has sparked.
Some conservative analysts note that the docuseries provides a platform to explore the "cultural conversations" Gaffney mentioned, including the letter sent by eleven Republican members of Congress to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert regarding player safety and potential racial motivations in fouls against Clark. They view the series as an opportunity to examine how Clark’s rise has intersected with broader political and cultural debates in the United States.
What the Numbers Show
The series will air on the following schedule: Jake Paul on October 27; Aaron Rodgers on November 3; Caitlin Clark on November 10; Michael Vick on November 17; Cristiano Ronaldo on November 24; and Floyd Mayweather Jr. on December 1. Michael Vick pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge in 2007 and served approximately 18 months in prison. Floyd Mayweather Jr. pleaded guilty to a reduced domestic battery charge in 2011. Cristiano Ronaldo accepted a suspended prison sentence in a 2019 Spanish tax fraud case. The series features interviews with former NFL executive Andrew Brandt regarding Rodgers, and animal-rescue activist Monica Caraffa regarding Vick.
The Bottom Line
The release of "Everybody Hates" marks a significant moment in sports media, as it places a current, active WNBA star in a historical context alongside retired athletes with criminal records. The series will test whether the public perceives the comparison as a valid exploration of fame and polarization or as an unfair conflation of different types of controversy. The broadcast of Clark’s episode in November will likely reignite debates about media narratives, player safety, and the cultural impact of women’s sports.