Michael Strahan Gets Blasted Over ‘Irresponsible’ Chris Johnson Interview
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Former NFL star Chris Johnson revealed his ALS diagnosis on Good Morning America. Michael Strahan faced backlash for how he handled the interview.
The three-time Pro Bowler discussed how the disease progressed rapidly. He highlighted his inability to lift his young daughter as a key example of the impact. The interview aimed to raise awareness about the condition.
Chris Johnson Opens Up About Rapid ALS Progression
Johnson described the devastating speed of his symptoms in the emotional segment. He emphasized wanting people to understand how quickly ALS attacks the body. The former Titans star appeared on the show to bring visibility to the illness and encourage support for research. Viewers noted the raw honesty in his statements about daily challenges.
Michael Strahan conducted the conversation but drew criticism for avoiding questions about football’s connection to ALS.
Media Figures Condemn Omission from Michael Strahan Regarding Johnson
The massive sports media backlash began after Johnson appeared on the morning entertainment program Good Morning America. During the televised segment, Chris Johnson courageously revealed his tragic medical diagnosis of ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Despite the profound medical revelation, host Michael Strahan failed to address the well-documented scientific correlation between gridiron sports and neurological diseases. Former Sports Illustrated writer and author Jeff Pearlman called out Strahan.
“We know by now through studies that there is a correlation between playing football and ALS. A much higher percentage of people who play football, specifically in the NFL, wind up with ALS than the general population,” Pearlman said.
“It is a known thing. The number of times Michael Strahan, a former football player, asks Chris Johnson about this? Zero. The number of times Good Morning America brings this up? Zero. It is so (expletive) irresponsible and grotesque,” he finished.
“Chris Johnson is dying and he showed up on Good Morning America to tell his story, and Michael Strahan, one of the great cowards on TV in my opinion, sits there and pretends, oh, this is heartbreaking, it’s so sad, I can’t believe this is happening to you, and doesn’t have the courage and the decency and the wherewithal to mention the ties between football and ALS. And that’s because he’s getting paid a (expletive) of money not to. It’s (expletive) disgusting.”
Former ESPN personality Dan Le Batard agreed with Pearlman’s stance on this situation.
“Michael Strahan has a responsibility in that instance to ask some sort of football-related question, and he did not do it,” Le Batard said.
“It’s just too uncomfortable. You just can’t enjoy that thing the way you do … when these guys are limping through their retirement homes to an early death.”
“The only reason Chris Johnson is on there is not because he has the disease, it’s because he played football. The reason Chris Johnson is being interviewed is because this is a former athlete of some name. They’re not interviewing random people with ALS, they’re interviewing this person. And so to neglect that question is an omission that I don’t know why the omission is there.”
Chris Johnson built a legendary career highlighted by his record-breaking 2009 season. His openness now shifts focus to health advocacy and raising ALS awareness. The interview generated widespread conversation about how the media handles such sensitive topics. Fans continue sharing messages of support for the former star.
