Former ESPN reporter Britt McHenry resigned from her position as a press advisor at the U.S. Department of State following an altercation at a Washington Wizards game on October 21, 2026. Video footage from the Wizards' matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena shows McHenry throwing a drink after she says a male spectator directed a "truly vile" comment at her.
According to McHenry, the incident began when a man seated in front of her made "egregiously loud" and "vile" remarks about Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma's fiancée, model Winnie Harlow, who has vitiligo. McHenry responded with a snarky comment, prompting the man to turn around and insult her with profanity. The situation escalated as fans heckled her and threw towels. McHenry said she and her friend, Andrew, briefly left their seats after an usher offered to move them, but they returned after she objected to being displaced. Upon returning, drinks were thrown at them, and McHenry said the main agitator made a comment about gang rape, at which point she threw her beer in his direction.
TMZ posted video of the confrontation, which also shows McHenry speaking with a security worker near an exit. She later stated on social media that the "main agitator" was ejected from the arena. Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Wizards and Capital One Arena, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
McHenry worked at ESPN from 2014 to 2017 and later joined Fox News. In September 2026, she announced she had taken a role as a press advisor for the State Department. Page Six reported on October 25 that she had been "forced to resign" the previous day, and McHenry confirmed to Front Office Sports that she signed a resignation letter. The State Department declined to comment on internal personnel matters.
McHenry said she has no regrets about her actions, writing on X that she "lost my job for it" but was "sticking up for Winnie Harlow, a woman that I admire, and many women and young girls look up to" as well as for herself.
