Steph Curry is firing back at sports analysts and former NBA players who criticized his wife, Ayesha Curry, over an acting role in a new romantic comedy.
The four-time NBA champion took to social media Wednesday to defend Ayesha’s professional career and call out what he described as misogynistic double standards in the media. The controversy stems from Ayesha’s performance in the Roku original film “Second Chance Holiday.”
In the movie, the Sweet July founder plays a lead role opposite actor Matthew Daddario. Clips of a scripted kissing scene between the two leads circulated on social media, prompting commentary from several high-profile podcasters and television personalities. Curry specifically named former NBA players Nick Young and Gilbert Arenas, along with analyst Emmanuel Acho, in an Instagram video.
He criticized the trio for using their platforms to mock his wife’s professional work and questioned their understanding of the entertainment industry. “Nick, Gil, Emmanuel and anybody else who feels the need to jump in and give an opinion on something you don’t really know about,” Curry said in the video.
The star point guard noted that the commentary “speaks to a bigger conversation on how you view women in this world and what they’re allowed and what they’re not allowed to do.” The couple, who have been married for 15 years, are no strangers to public scrutiny, but Steph Curry indicated that the recent wave of criticism crossed a line.
He expressed frustration that professional accomplishments are often overshadowed by manufactured drama regarding the nature of acting. “Given the ignorance around how acting works, obviously I tried to laugh this one off but something needs to be said,” Curry said.
He urged the commentators to show the same energy in praising her successes as they do when generating headlines from her film scenes. Curry concluded his message by demanding more respect for his wife’s autonomy and career.
He suggested that if Ayesha Curry’s name is featured in a headline, it should be met with “congratulations” and that any future apologies should be “as loud as when y’all leading y’all shows with this topic.” Ayesha Curry, a successful entrepreneur and cookbook author, has been expanding her reach into film and television in recent years.
“Second Chance Holiday” marks her latest project in a growing portfolio of media ventures. neither Young nor Arenas have issued a formal response to Curry’s comments as of Thursday morning.
