During a break in play on the March Madness broadcast, Charles Barkley, 63, spoke out about immigration while discussing Alex Karaban, a standout for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball.
After analysts noted that Karaban’s parents immigrated to the United States from Belarus and Ukraine, Barkley used the moment to address the broader issue of immigration in America.
“I’m so lucky to be born in the United States,” Barkley said during the broadcast. “For me to hear all this stuff about trying to make these people feel less than — it really pisses me off.”
He continued by calling the treatment of immigrants “disgraceful,” adding, “All these people came here to make a better life for themselves and their families. We’ve got to do better as a country.”
The comments came shortly after the weekend’s No King protests, where demonstrators criticized policies tied to Donald Trump. Barkley’s remarks quickly went viral, sparking debate across social media about immigration policy and the role of sports commentators speaking on political issues during major national broadcasts.
