Sports commentator Clay Travis told CNN viewers Friday that he "believes only in two things completely: the First Amendment and boobs," shocking host Brooke Baldwin.
Travis appeared on CNN to discuss ESPN host Jemele Hill, who stirred controversy earlier this week by tweeting that President Donald Trump was a "white supremacist." ESPN has subsequently disavowed Hill's remarks, calling them "inappropriate." Travis attacked ESPN for not firing Hill, when they had previously fired analyst Curt Schilling over comments on transgender people.
Travis, who operates the website Outkickthecoverage.com, was explaining his support for allowing sportscasters to share their political opinions to Baldwin when he dropped the comment that instantly sent Twitter ablaze.
"I am a First Amendment absolutist. I believe in only two things completely: the First Amendment and boobs," Travis said.
Travis laughed slightly as Baldwin contorted her face in confusion.
"Wait, did you just say you believe in the First Amendment and — I just want to make sure I heard you correctly as a woman anchoring this show," Baldwin said. "What did you just say? You believe in the First Amendment and... B-O-O-B-S?"
"Boobs. Two things that have never let me down in this entire country's history, the First Amendment and boobs. So those are the only two things I believe in absolutely in the country," Travis said.
He went on to explain that he believed that ESPN needed to be consistent, given that it had already fired Schilling. But Baldwin and co-panelist Keith Reed, a former EPSN senior editor, did not drop Travis's "boobs" comment.
"I'm astonished at almost everything I just heard," Reed said. He went on to excoriate Travis for sexist comments.
"I'm still there too, and I just want to make sure I'm hearing you correctly. B-O-O-Z-E or B-O-O-B-S?" interjected Baldwin. "Because as a woman, I'm—"
"I said boobs. I believe completely in the First Amendment and in boobs. Those are the only two things I believe 100 percent in in this country," Travis said.
"Why would you even say that, live on national television, and with a female host?" Baldwin asked.
"Because I like boobs, and the First Amendment, which is exactly what I said!" Travis responded.
Baldwin apologized "for him" after the segment, calling Travis' remarks "entirely inappropriate." She also took to Twitter to voice her distress at the interaction.
"That was... I just... it was one of those thought bubbles 'did he actually say that on MY SHOW?!' Note to men -- that is never okay. #smh" she wrote.
That was... I just... it was one of those thought bubbles "did he actually say that on MY SHOW?!" Note to men -- that is never okay. #smh
— Brooke Baldwin (@BrookeBaldwin) September 15, 2017
Travis, meanwhile, only requested video of his comments.
Just went on @cnn and said I only believe in two things completely, the first amendment and boobs and the host lost it. Need video now.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 15, 2017
Travis has a history of criticism of ESPN, which he calls "MSESPN" in reference to to the liberal MSNBC cable news channel.
Travis broke the news last month that ESPN had removed Asian sportscaster Robert Lee, who shares a name with a Confederate General, from calling a University of Virginia football game because of the university's location in Charlottesville, Va., and the recent white supremacist violence there amid a debate over removing Lee's statue.
The full segment is below.
UPDATED 4:15 P.M.: This story has been updated with Twitter comments from Baldwin and Travis.