ESPN analyst and former NFL tight end Ben Watson decided to walk off the set on Saturday when his colleague made an out-of-line joke during the SEC Network’s halftime show. The crew appeared to be having a good laugh at first when co-analyst Peter Burns joked about Watson being the only member on camera wearing a light-colored suit.
Watson then said he doesn’t care how he looked as long as his wife approves the wardrobe.
“As long as I get a text from my wife that says I look good,” Watson said. “Send me the text, baby. Send me the text.”
Burns followed up with a response that wasn’t accepted very well.
“That’s not the text she sent me,” he said.
When the show later came back from commercial break, only host Chris Doering and analyst Takeo Spikes were still sitting at the desk. Watson came back after the show was already on air, but Burns was still missing.
Doering tried to make light of the situation, asking Watson if he told Burns to “keep your wife’s name out your mouth.”
“Huh?” Watson said, hinting that he didn’t want to talk about it.
The bizarre moment caught plenty of attention on social media.
the epitome of f*ck around & find out 💀pic.twitter.com/dA4N14sPEn
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 19, 2022
Don’t play around with a dad x 7. His patience ran out way before burns opened his mouth. pic.twitter.com/VcDI0kop7h
— Txampurrada512 (@txampurrada512) November 19, 2022
Not trying to defend the other guy but I thought the joke he was trying to make was like “oh your wife text me and said you DONT look good haha” 🧐
— FOOTBALL ANA (GENOPILLED) (@FootballGirlAna) November 20, 2022
Has anyone heard from Peter?
— J-Nouri (@jnouri13) November 19, 2022
I’ve watched this 5 times, and still can’t find a reason to say that on TV. Man, that’s really the comment you want to say to another man after that? You really think you gonna just disrespect that woman like that???
— Gee Scott Sr. (@GeeScottSr) November 19, 2022
Burns later posted a photo with Watson, captioning the picture with #friendship. While Burns showed off a beaming smile in the photo, Watson didn’t appear so pleased.
#Friendship pic.twitter.com/3D41kTpF73
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) November 19, 2022
According to Sports Illustrated, Watson confirmed that he was upset. The former NFL player added that Burns owes his wife a “public apology.”
Moving on. But you still owe Mrs Watson a public apology. https://t.co/nNASqU5A6P
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) November 20, 2022