Last year, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant publicly criticized sports journalist Malika Andrews. He accused her of being racist in her commentary. Bryant argued that Andrews showed a double standard in how she treated certain issues in sports. He advised her to be careful about framing discussions through race.

Andrews, the host of NBA Today on ESPN, received significant backlash following Bryant’s comments. Recently, during an episode of Dinners with DeMar, she addressed the criticisms regarding her coverage of Black NBA players. The sports journalist denied the accusations of deliberately targeting Black men.

“That’s been the hardest thing for me sometimes is stomaching the falsehoods, particularly this [idea of], ‘you hate Black men,’ that couldn’t be further from the truth, and using my family or the way that my family looks as some sort of evidence of that. And that it’s just untrue, and it’s just unkind. We all have jobs to do, and I try to do my best to show up every day that (NBA athletes) know what I’m about.” Andrews said.

Andrews comes from a mixed-race family. She was born in Oakland, California, to Mike, a personal trainer, and Caren, an art teacher. On August 24, 2024, she took a significant step in her life by marrying her longtime boyfriend and fellow ESPN colleague, Dave McMenamin, in her hometown of San Francisco.

Exploring the Feud Between Dez Bryant and Malika Andrews

The incident began when sports commentator Andrews mentioned Alabama basketball star Brandon Miller in connection with the tragic shooting that occurred in Tuscaloosa, involving his former teammate Darius Miles.

According to multiple reports, it was revealed that Miller allegedly delivered a firearm to Miles, which was later used by another individual to fatally shoot 23-year-old Jamea Harris. The discussion intensified when Andrews expressed her viewpoint on the matter, which prompted backlash from Bryant.

Bryant disagreed with her comments and compared the situation to the controversy surrounding NBA player Josh Giddey. Giddey faced scrutiny for his involvement in a relationship with a minor.