Charles Barkley is facing renewed criticism after a resurfaced podcast clip shows him repeating long-debunked claims about Galveston’s beaches, months after he apologized for similar remarks.
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Charles Barkley is once again facing criticism from residents of Galveston following the emergence of a podcast clip in which he reiterates his negative remarks about the island’s beaches, just months after he encountered public backlash for similar statements earlier this year.
The remarks surfaced on the Barstool Sports podcast “Pardon My Take,” initially recorded in July and shared again this week across social media platforms, including the show's TikTok account. In the episode, Barkley recounted his arrival in Galveston in the mid-1990s following his trade from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets, looking forward to a week at the beach as a respite from the unexpected change.
Upon arriving at the island for training camp, Barkley expressed his astonishment at the water's look, describing it as “kinda dirty.” The ex-NBA player intensified his criticism, stating, “We have a beach where you must wear shoes, the water only reaches your ankles, and it’s filthy … with trash.” “We’re not at the beach … we’re in hell!”
Podcast host PFT Commenter, also known as Eric Sollenberger, participated in the discussion and reiterated claims regarding debris and water quality that have been challenged by Galveston officials and environmental experts for some time.
Barkley made a brief note that “the people in Galveston are very nice,” a statement reminiscent of his comments in April 2024, when he sought to clarify earlier remarks following significant backlash—including from Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, who openly supported the island.
Community members and tourism supporters quickly took to the internet to voice their opinions once more. Numerous individuals expressed their disagreement with the video, highlighting that the brown color of Galveston’s beach water is usually due to silt-laden currents from the Mississippi River, rather than pollution. Many have observed that this year's conditions have been remarkably advantageous, with blue-green water appearing much more often along the island’s shoreline.
A multitude of users chose to engage with humor, sharing sarcastic responses and memes directed at Barkley rather than go over explanations that locals claim they are “exhausted from reiterating.”
There have been no additional comments from Barkley or the podcast hosts. Officials from the city and tourism sectors have yet to make any public statements regarding the re-emerged video.
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