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Concepcion Today
By the People, for the People
Charles Barkley Defends Texas A&M Player Facing Mockery
NBA legend gets emotional over cruel online comments targeting player with speech impediment
Mar. 10, 2026 at 4:09am
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NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley expressed outrage and sadness over the cruel online mockery directed at Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, who has a speech impediment, after Concepcion's appearance at the NFL Combine. Barkley called out the anonymous cruelty enabled by social media and defended Concepcion, saying "This kid has a stuttering problem and a speech impediment" and that the hateful comments were "the lowest" he had seen.
Why it matters
Barkley's emotional response highlights the harmful impact that online bullying and mockery can have, especially for young athletes and others with disabilities or differences. It also underscores the need for greater empathy, compassion and accountability on social media platforms.
The details
When Concepcion, who has a stuttering problem and speech impediment, approached the podium at the NFL Combine, he handled the media interaction extremely well. However, the cruel comments that followed on social media upset Barkley greatly. On The Steam Room podcast, Barkley expressed his anger, saying "Y'all reached a new low for me, and it hurt me" and calling the anonymous commenters "the lowest people" for mocking Concepcion's disability.
- Concepcion appeared at the NFL Combine in March 2026.
The players
Charles Barkley
A Hall of Fame NBA player and current sports analyst who expressed outrage over the online mockery directed at KC Concepcion.
KC Concepcion
A wide receiver for the Texas A&M football team who has a stuttering problem and speech impediment, and faced cruel online comments after his NFL Combine appearance.
What they’re saying
“Y'all reached a new low for me, and it hurt me. Now, I'm getting emotional because I was so pissed when I heard about it.”
— Charles Barkley
“This kid has a stuttering problem and a speech impediment. Then I saw some of my friends — who know why I hate social media — sent me some of the comments that you people were making about this kid. Man, you are the lowest people.”
— Charles Barkley
“To see all the mean-spirited comments. I'm like, yo, who sits at home behind a computer and says, 'Hey, you know what? Let me make fun of this kid.'”
— Charles Barkley
The takeaway
This incident highlights the need for greater empathy, compassion and accountability on social media platforms, where anonymous users can often target and mock individuals with disabilities or differences without consequence. Barkley's emotional response underscores the harmful impact that online bullying can have, especially on young athletes and others who are vulnerable.
