Naomi Osaka clapped back at conservative pundit Megyn Kelly on Monday over remarks Kelly made about her appearing on magazine covers.
The brief back-and-forth started when journalist Clay Travis commented about Osaka being “too introverted to talk to the media after tennis matches” but able to appear on magazine covers and launch a Barbie.
The 23-year-old tennis phenom is featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue this week.
Kelly quoted the tweet and added, “Let’s not forget the cover of (& interview in) Vogue Japan and Time Mag!”
In a now-deleted tweet, Osaka responded to Kelly, asking her to “do better.”
“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,” she wrote. “Instead your first reaction is to hop on here and spew negativity, do better Megan.”
Kelly felt like getting the last word in, tweeting that Osaka blocked her on the social media platform shortly after responding to her mean tweet.
“Poor @naomiosaka blocked me while taking a shot at me (guess she’s only tough on the courts). She is apparently arguing that she shot her many covers b/4 publicly claiming she was too socially anxious to deal w/press. Truth is she just doesn’t like Qs she can’t control. Admit it,” Kelly wrote alongside a picture showing Osaka blocked her.
Osaka withdrew from the French Open in May after being fined for missing a press conference, citing mental health reasons. At the time, she opened up about her social anxiety and depression. She expressed that speaking in public was triggering for her. She subsequently took a break from tennis.
