ESPN’s Pat McAfee probably didn’t see this level of backlash coming. Critics have been particularly harsh, with some taking their criticism a step too far.

One X user went so far as to write, “I hope @PatMcAfeeShow gets kidney stones or something and can’t ruin college gameday this weekend.”

But McAfee wasn’t about to let that comment slide without a response.

Pat McAfee Fires Back at Critic

After coming across the post on X, McAfee had a few words for his critic.

“This is crazy,” he quipped, quoting a critic’s post.

McAfee also addressed the kidney stones remark on his show shortly afterward.

“Somebody’s wishing for me to get kidney stones,” McAfee said. “They hurt so bad. I don’t like that at all. Wishing for kidney stones?… that’s real pain.”

For the record, the former Indianapolis Colts punter joined ESPN on a multi-year deal in July 2019. A few years later, he became a full-time analyst on “College GameDay.” While his unfiltered style hasn’t appealed to many, his Kicking Contest has become a popular part of the show.

This marks the second time this week that McAfee has faced criticism. Except for his work in football, the ESPN personality is also stepping into animation, lending his voice to a character in Disney’s upcoming movie Hexed.

With the NFL and college football seasons in full swing and McAfee already juggling multiple sports shows, fans think this new project will make his schedule more hectic. And so, the announcement didn’t make his fans happy.

But ESPN has his back. When ESPN executive Mike Foss was asked what he’d say to McAfee’s critics, he replied, “Absolutely nothing.”

While at it, Foss also praised McAfee for being a “journalist at heart” when he’s on TV.

“It’s funny, I think he might be a journalist at heart,” Foss said. “I think what you find, as he puts the show together each day and something piques his interest, he’s got the Rolodex, so he has built access that a lot of people don’t have the ability to do.”

Despite the criticism, McAfee doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. And ESPN has no plans to part ways with him anytime soon.