Naomi Osaka broke down in tears after a reporter repeatedly asked her a question with an aggressive tone.
RELATED STORIES: Naomi Osaka Claps Back At Megyn Kelly Criticizing For Her SI Swimsuit Cover: “Better Megan”
During the press conference, tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg explained to TMZ that the reporter asked “a fairly aggressively toned question about how she benefits from a high-media profile but doesn’t like talking to media.” Moments later, Osaka breaks down into tears and asks if she could step down from the podium. She returns to the conference but Rothenberg says things went a bit “awry.”
Osaka’s agent, Stuart Duguid” said in a statement that the reporter who asked the question is a writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“The bully at the Cincinnati Enquirer is the epitome of why player / media relations are so fraught right now,” he said.
RELATED STORIES: Naomi Osaka’s New Barbie Doll Sells Out First Day!
Ok Duguid added that other reporters will confirm that the writer’s tone was inappropriate.
“Everyone on that Zoom will agree that his tone was all wrong and his sole purpose was to intimidate. Really appalling behavior.And this insinuation that Naomi owes her off-court success to the media is a myth – don’t be so self-indulgent.”
This is first press conference for Osama after she said she didn’t want to do any post game interviews citing mental illness.