ESPN's Ryan Clark apologizes to Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa after 'bad joke' stripper comment

ESPN analyst and Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark issued an apology to Tua Tagovailoa on Thursday, following comments criticizing the Miami Dolphins quarterback’s weight and work ethic this offseason while comparing his figure to a dancer at a strip club.

Clark realized his comments, made in a joking manner, weren’t taken as a joke by Tagovailoa, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel or Dolphins fans on social media.

Clark added that his “ego was involved,” leading to “pride that doesn't enable me to see what this dude's going through.”

“If I've offended you Tua, if I've hurt you, if I've disrespected you, if anybody that supports you and loves you feels some sort of way because of what I said, I truly apologize,” Clark said in a video posted on social media.

One day earlier, Tagovailoa responded to Clark’s initial comments, telling Clark: “I’d appreciate if you kept my name out your mouth.”

More on Ryan Clark’s lengthy apology to Tua Tagovailoa

Clark said he had a conversation with Tagovailoa’s South Florida-based trainer Nick Hicks, following the initial comments.

“The constant criticisms, the constant scrutiny, constantly being questioned. Feeling the stress of always having to prove yourself just to show people you can be available. And then you work throughout the entire offseason, which I talked to his trainer, and [he] said ‘that man was in there three times a day to build himself up to be healthy. And you got to hear a comment like this?’ So, I get it,” Clark said in his apology.

“I get it because I do want to respect Tua Tagovailoa. I get it because I want his respect, too. So, to the Miami Dolphins, to head coach Mike McDaniel, who I have a ton of respect for, but most of all to Tua Tagovailoa and his family, I deeply apologize.”

What did Ryan Clark say about Tua Tagovailoa in the first place?

During an episode of “NFL Live” this week, Clark said Tagovailoa looked like he skipped the gym and was “not at the dinner table eating what the nutritionist had advised.”

Clark added Tagovailoa – who has worked to improve his body for 2023 after sustaining two documented concussions and missing five games last season – appeared happy, thick and compared him to a dancer at a strip club.

“Let me tell you what he wasn’t doing: He wasn’t in the gym, I’ll bet you that,” Clark said. “He might spend a lot of time in the tattoo parlor. He was not at the dinner table eating what the nutritionist had advised. He looks happy. He is thick. He’s built like the girls working at Onyx right now.”

What did Tua Tagovailoa say in response to Ryan Clark?

Tagovailoa responded to Clark’s comments after Dolphins training camp practice on Wednesday.

"My background, I come from a Samoan family. Respect is everything. But it does get to a point where, hey, a little easy on that buddy. I think we’re pretty tough-minded people. And if we need to get scrappy, we can get scrappy, too,” Tagovailoa said.

“I’m not someone to talk about myself the entire time, but it takes a lot. You think I wanted to build all this muscle? To some extent, I wanted to be a little lighter. There’s a mixture of things that people don’t understand that people don’t know about that are talked about behind the scenes.

“I’d appreciate if you kept my name out your mouth, that’s what I’d say,” Tagovailoa said.

Could Tua Tagovailoa and Ryan Clark hash out their differences in the future?

Clark said he attempted to make contact with Tagovailoa and hopes to touch base with him.

“I've reached out. I hope to talk to you soon, brother,” Clark said to Tagovailoa.  

“But just know. I wasn't questioning the way you work. I wasn't questioning how much it mattered to you. It was what I can consider now. A bad joke. But for me, it's been a lesson. I'll be better.”

What did Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel say about Tua Tagovailoa?

McDaniel said Tagovailoa has put his best foot forward this offseason, and “I think his teammates would agree, we’re getting the best version of Tua that’s ever existed.”

“Every metric of strength that has measured, he’s shattered his previous highs.  And in some instances, he’s twice as strong in some things. That’s been a daily commitment he hasn’t wavered from,” McDaniel said of Tagovailoa.

“He's taken his nutrition to another level. He's taken his commitment to what he's trying to do, and really thought outside the box, and really, really worked at it. So, I couldn't be happier with the work that he's put in.”