Britt McHenry Says She Threw Drink After Gang Rape Slur at Game

Britt McHenry is breaking her silence on the incident that cost her job at the State Department, alleging a heckler used a gang rape slur against her during a Washington Wizards game. According to TMZ ^[1], the former ESPN host attended the October 21 matchup with a friend when the confrontation began.

The New York Post reported ^[2] that McHenry said a man wearing what she described as a "knockoff Patagonia vest" was loudly insulting Winnie Harlow, the fiancée of Milwaukee Bucks star Kyle Kuzma. The heckler allegedly made comments about Harlow’s vitiligo, an autoimmune skin condition.

McHenry admitted she made a sarcastic remark in response to the harassment, saying, "Oh, I’m sure your girlfriend is really beautiful right?" Another man in the row reportedly told her to "shut the f–k up, you dumb bitch," according to the New York Post ^[2]. McHenry said the situation escalated when she returned to her seat after initially moving to the concessions.

TMZ ^[1] noted that video shows McHenry throwing her drink at one of the men, who had allegedly made a vile comment about what should be done to her. The outlet confirmed that the incident led to her forced resignation from her role as a press advisor for the U.S. State Department, where she had been recently hired to cover Europe and Africa.

McHenry told followers via Instagram that she was "sticking up for Winnie Harlow, a woman that I admire," and that she was also defending herself. She expressed regret about returning to her seats, stating, "In hindsight, I wish we would’ve left." The main agitator was reportedly ejected from the arena by security.

The former Trump staffer emphasized that the behavior was not typical of the games she has attended as a journalist. She noted that the seats they occupied were estimated to cost $300, but she felt it was unfair to give them up due to the heckling. Despite the controversy, McHenry maintained that her actions were a response to harassment rather than unprovoked aggression.