Naomi Osaka is not a fan of people throwing shots at her gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated. The tennis star took a shot at conservative pundit Megyn Kelly after Kelly accused Osaka of not being genuine about her recent decision to not conduct media interviews, citing mental health concerns.
“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 said. “Instead your first reaction is to hop on here and spew negativity, do better Megan.”
She has since deleted the tweet.
Kelly was discussing Osaka on Monday on Twitter with Clay Travis: “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,” Travis tweeted.
“Let’s not forget the cover of (& interview in) Vogue Japan and Time Mag!” Kelly added.
Osaka would block her soon after as Kelly responded back.
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Piers Morgan also chimed in:
Late last month, Osaka withdrew from the French Open to focus on her mental health.
“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” she wrote in a statement, adding she is concerned about people working in media and elsewhere who display “no regard for athletes mental health” and that it “rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.”
Osaka is no stranger to the Sports Illustrated brand after being named a 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for her activism. She was also recently awarded as the Best Female Athlete at the 2021 ESPYs.
“I’m so proud to be the first Japanese and Haitian woman to grace one of the covers. I feel like that multi-cultural background is present in all of the things that I do. I try to incorporate it in everything, so hopefully, you see that,” Osaka told Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. “My memories [of the magazine] kind of involves the people that I grew up admiring, so I remember Tyra Banks’s issue, I remember Beyonce’s. Just growing up and watching so many incredible women grace this cover, for me, it feels like a dream.”
