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Pat McAfee has issued a cryptic denial after being accused of smoking marijuana during Thursday's episode of his eponymous ESPN/YouTube show.
Per his usual, the 39-year-old punter-turned-talk show host was standing at his microphone during the second hour of the program – only this time he had what appeared to be a cigarette or joint in his left hand. McAfee then rested the smoldering item on an ash tray in the same inconspicuous manner tobacco smokers Johnny Carson and Edward R. Murrow did during their broadcast careers.
Fans quickly flooded social media to accuse McAfee of smoking pot during the show. And although he has previously told the All the Smoke podcast he does smoke 'a lot of weed,' McAfee appeared to downplay the visual online by claiming he was actually burning an unintoxicating herb.
'Little sage never hurt nobody,' McAfee wrote on X before engaging in a few humorous exchanges with his followers.
'The ones who watch the progrum know it's either sage or cbd,' one follower wrote on X, prompting a 'THANK YOU' from McAfee.
Hemp-derived CBD is legal in Indiana, where the former Indianapolis Colts punter produces his show, but recreational marijuana remains banned in the state. Possession of the drug in Indiana is punishable by up to 180 days behind bars and a potential fine of $1,000 for a first offense.
Per his usual, McAfee was standing at his microphone during the second hour of the program – only this time he had what appeared to be a cigarette or joint in his left hand
McAfee (seen here during an episode of College GameDay) issued a cryptic denial on Friday
An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment on the matter when contacted by The Daily Mail. The network does not own McAfee's show, but rather licenses it from him.
McAfee has made playful references to smoking pot and once appeared to take a hit off a vape pen during a live, public ESPN taping.
Viewers weren't necessarily shocked by Thursday's moment, but a few claimed McAfee would go unpunished where others might suffer consequences under similar circumstances.
'Pat McAfee is the most powerful person other than Donald Trump,' ex-Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy said on his podcast, SpeakEasy. 'He's the only dude I know that can smoke weed on a show and nothing happens.'
'I'm not mad at it, but a long list of people not named Pat McAfee would probably be punished/fired for this,' wrote Eagles blogger Alexis Chassen.
'We all know if Pat McAfee was black,' another X user began, 'this never happens. I'm not saying it's about race, but I had to point that out... Paul Pierce got fired while off the clock doing the same thing.'
Pierce, the legendary Boston Celtics forward, was fired by ESPN in 2021 after posting video of himself on Instagram smoking, drinking and gambling with exotic dancers.
