Naomi Osaka responded to Megyn Kelly after the journalist tried to knock the number of times the tennis star has been in magazines since declining interviews at the French Open to better support her mental health.
The online exchange began Monday (July 19), just hours after Osaka posted the cover photos. Kelly responded to a tweet from conservative sports commentator, Clay Travis who wrote: “Since saying she’s too introverted to talk to the media after tennis matches, Naomi Osaka has launched a reality show, a Barbie, and now is on the cover of the SI swimsuit issue.”
Kelly, 50, replied, “Let’s not forget the cover or (& interview in) Vogue Japan and Time Mag!”
Osaka responded to Kelly in a now-deleted tweet, explaining that she’d shot the cover photos before going public about her struggles with mental health.
“Seeing as you’re a journalist I would’ve assumed you would take the time to research what the lead times are for magazines, if you did that you would’ve found out I shot all of my covers last year,” Osaka wrote in the tweet, according to a screenshot taken by Sporting News. “Instead your first reaction is to hop on here and spew negativity, do better Megan [sic].”
Kelly wrote back mocking the athlete, claiming Osaka had blocked her. “Guess she’s only tough on the courts,” Kelly, a former Fox News anchor, tweeted.
Osaka, 23, dropped out of several competitions following the French Open, citing concerns for her mental health. She wrote an essay about her journey, reminding fans that "it's OK to not be OK."
If you or someone you know need mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
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