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Former ESPN star and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann has had enough of Pat McAfee on the ESPN airwaves.
Olbermann called McAfee an “idiot” who should be fired over his outburst — when he called Canada a “terrible country” — while color commentating for WWE’s “Elimination Chamber” in Toronto on Saturday.
McAfee chastised Canadian fans during the broadcast after “very loud” boos rang down during the U.S. national anthem at Rogers Centre.
Pat McAfee was not happy with the Canadian crowd booing the US National Anthem. #WWEChamber pic.twitter.com/pxz76iToV6— PWUnlimited (@PWUnlimited) March 2, 2025
“A lot of us tried to warn the new espn management that the day would come when this idiot would draw them into a permanent political controversy and they could either be subsumed by it, or fire him,” Olbermann wrote on X.
“That day is today. Fire him.”
ESPN has yet to address the situation publicly.
Olbermann — who did not elaborate on his apparent warning to ESPN management — included a video of McAfee explaining his comments during his ESPN show Monday.
McAfee, who stood by his comments, said he respected how passionate Canadian fans are about their country and waved the white flag because he wanted to move forward.
“Now Canada listen, there’s been some things said to me from Canadians that I guess I respect because of the passion that you have for your country — which I hope you understand that I was showing the same for mine. You booed my country,” McAfee said, adding that the boos were “overwhelming” and “very loud” during the national anthem, which was performed by American singer Elizabeth Irving.
McAfee acknowledged the political climate between the United States and Canada since President Trump’s repeated remarks about wanting to make Canada “the 51st state” and imposing tariffs.
“I understand, now, from the Canadians that they have a lot more passion for their country than I could have imagined. A lot of terrible things have been said about me and I understand it,” McAfee said.
“… I didn’t say Canadians were terrible, I said your country was. You booed us, I said you were terrible, let’s shake hands and move along. I still love Canadians … I hope it gets settled.”
McAfee landed a $85 million, five-year deal with ESPN in 2023.
