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Braves Reporter Blasts Fans Amid Latest Losing Streak

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 1:59 PM ET

Social media has made it far easier for fans to vent their anger and frustration on their favorite teams, players, coaches, and even reporters.

Atlanta Braves beat writer David O’Brien falls into that last category, and he’s had enough.

O’Brien, who covers the Braves for The Athletic, exploded in a seven-post rant on X/Twitter following Saturday’s 9-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Atlanta enters Monday riding a four-game losing streak, and the 39-50 Braves are nine games back in the NL Wild Card race.

Although fans have come to expect frustrating losses, they likely didn’t plan on seeing O’Brien call them “two-faced hypocrites” on Saturday evening.

“When they’re losing, you say we don’t ask tough questions,” O’Brien wrote. “When they’re winning, you say we’re negative if we upset them, and fanboys quickly jump to the side of any player whatsoever who criticizes a reporter.”

O’Brien then aimed at fans who wanted him—and, by extension, other Braves reporters—to openly criticize players or try picking fights with them during postgame media scrums.

“If I wanted players to like me, I’d avoid writing all the pile of negative stats I’ve written here virtually every day this season,” O’Brien explained.

Added O’Brien: “[All] you think will prove that reporters aren’t carrying water for teams is if they ask questions repeatedly in pressers so you can see the show, even if the answer given is rarely what you want to hear.”

O’Brien even said fans aren’t “smart enough, or mature enough” to understand reporters’ responsibilities.

“[The] entitled era of social media has created a class of people who think these guys are beholden to you, or us,” O’Brien wrote. “They are not.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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