Paul Pierce Faces Backlash Over Comments on Black Women and Dating Preferences

Former NBA star Paul Pierce is under fire after remarks he made on his podcast suggesting that some Black NBA players choose to date white women because Black women are perceived as “difficult to deal with.”

Speaking on a recent episode of The Truth After Dark with Paul and Azar, Pierce shared his controversial views during a conversation with co-host Azar Farideh.

When asked why some Black athletes date white women, Pierce replied, “I honestly think that maybe they appreciate [them] more, and they apologize more,” before laughing. “They don’t mind being held accountable!”

Pierce, who is married to a Black woman, drew widespread criticism for his comments, which many saw as reinforcing negative stereotypes about Black women. Predictably, the remarks triggered a firestorm across social media platforms, where users condemned the narrative he perpetuated.

While interracial relationships are a common and accepted part of modern life, research counters the stereotype Pierce implied. According to 2024 U.S. Census data, 85% of Black men marry Black women. Further analysis by ThoughtCo. shows that even among Black men earning over $100,000 annually, 83% are married to Black women.

A Pew Research study also found that 79% of married Black men have Black spouses — only slightly less than the 87% of Black women who marry Black partners.

These statistics raise questions about why the stereotype of Black men preferring white women continues to hold sway in public conversation.

Experts point to historical and societal roots. A 2018 Duke University study found that both Black and white respondents often stereotype white women as being more “nurturing” and “docile,” similar to the traits Pierce referenced in his podcast.

Sarah Adeyinka-Skold, a sociologist and assistant professor at Loyola Marymount University, says stereotypes like the ones Pierce echoed harm Black women’s experiences in the dating world.

“Both Black and non-Black men use these societal tropes to justify why they don’t date Black women,” Adeyinka-Skold explained. “As long as we have a society with historical amnesia — forgetting how structures from four hundred years ago still affect us today — Black women will continue to face challenges in the dating market.”