Jack Hughes gives curt reply to ESPN's AJ Mleczko's injury joke in Devils opener
During the New Jersey Devils' season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers, Jack Hughes responded tersely to an injury joke from ESPN's AJ Mleczko in an intermission interview, then scored the overtime winner.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes had a tense exchange with ESPN's AJ Mleczko during an interview in the team's season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. NewsweekN “Hughes also had a very tense interaction with ESPN reporter AJ Mleczko during their interview between the first and second periods.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “The Devils hosted the Philadelphia Flyers for their season opener at the Prudential Center.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Mleczko was stationed between the benches, and the interview came after the first period, with the Devils trailing 1-0. Fox NewsR “After the first period, the Devils were down 1-0, and Hughes was called over to do an interview with Mleczko, who was stationed between the benches.” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1Mleczko ended the interview with a joke about Hughes cutting his finger last season, asking whether he should be wrapped in bubble wrap and use plastic cutlery this year. NewsweekN “"Well, it's great to see you healthy," Mleczko said. "Wrap you in bubble wrap and use plastic cutlery this year? Does that sound good?"” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Hughes replied, "I mean, I think that's a weird joke. Big game, but," and skated away. NewsweekN “"I mean, I think that's a weird joke. Big game, but," Hughes said before abruptly skating away.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Mleczko said there was "no sense of humor here in a big game" but thanked him for his time and noted he had a good start to the season. NewsweekN “"Well, no sense of humor here in a big game, but I appreciate his time, and he had a good start here this season," Mleczko said.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Hughes went on to score the Devils' overtime winner; Newsweek describes him as a 25-year-old centre. NewsweekN “Jack Hughes scored the New Jersey Devils' overtime winner in their season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.”“the 25-year-old center will be looking to build off it” Read at Newsweek ↗
Right · 1Fox News's OutKick reports that social media reaction was divided: some criticised Mleczko for the joke, others called that criticism misogynistic, and some used the moment to criticise Hughes for laughing at a joke the president made after the Team USA gold medal game. Fox NewsR “with some going after Mleczko for making the joke. Others said criticism of her was misogynistic or saw it as an opportunity to go after Hughes for laughing at a joke the president made after the gold medal game.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The Fox News columnist called it a "perfect storm of awkwardness", said Mleczko is a solid broadcaster who took the wrong approach with a player not known for being gregarious, and said linking the moment to the earlier presidential joke was an attempt to build a narrative that isn't there. Fox NewsR “Personally, I think it was a perfect storm of awkwardness.”“I think Mleczko's biggest mistake was taking the wrong approach with the wrong player.”“in a vain attempt to build a narrative that just doesn't seem to be there.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Short news report on the exchange, quoting both parties and noting Hughes then scored the overtime winner.
- Emphasis
- The quotes, Hughes's abrupt exit, and his game-winning goal.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover the social media reaction or the earlier presidential joke.
- Charged language
- “tense interaction”“undoubtedly an awkward interaction”
- For example
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“This was undoubtedly an awkward interaction between Hughes and Mleczko.” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinion-flavoured column on social media reaction, treating the moment as a candidate for 'Awkward Moment of the Year' and spreading blame while defending Mleczko.
- Emphasis
- Online reaction, political angle (the president's joke after the gold medal game), and the style fit between interviewer and player.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote Hughes's or Mleczko's words, and does not mention the overtime winner.
- Charged language
- “excruciatingly awkward”“Awkward Moment of the Year”“about as well as a dog fart at a wake”“social bleach and ammonia”
- For example
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“it's safe to say that we have a frontrunner for "Awkward Moment of the Year" already.” — Fox News
What every side reports
- The exchange happened during the Devils' season opener against the Flyers.
- Mleczko made a joke about Hughes's injury history, and Hughes did not respond warmly.
- The interview took place at the end of the first period.
Where accounts differ
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Whose misstep it was
- Centre
- Newsweek says Hughes made clear he was not amused and focused on the game, and suggests the joke might have landed better before or after the game.
- Right
- Fox News's OutKick says Mleczko is a solid broadcaster but picked the wrong approach with a non-gregarious player; it also says it was mutual awkwardness ('perfect storm') and that criticism of Hughes is overblown.
Jack Hughes person
Hughes called the joke weird, said it was a big game, and skated away; he scored the overtime winner.
“"I mean, I think that's a weird joke. Big game, but," Hughes said before abruptly skating away.” — Newsweek
New Jersey Devils organisation
The Devils won in overtime after trailing 1-0 after the first period; the coverage does not show a team statement on the exchange.
“After the first period, the Devils were down 1-0” — Fox News
“Jack Hughes scored the New Jersey Devils' overtime winner” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Devils Star Jack Hughes Has Tense Interaction With Rink-Side Reporter
Neutral Straightforward account of the awkward exchange, with mild commentary that Hughes was focused on the game.
Right1 article
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Social media reacts to excruciatingly awkward moment between Devils Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst
Mixed Humorous, opinionated take on the awkward moment and the online reaction, sympathetic to Mleczko while saying she misjudged the player.
- 2 Oct 15:35 First NewsweekN Devils Star Jack Hughes Has Tense Interaction With Rink-Side Reporter
- 2 Oct 20:44 +5h 9m Fox NewsR Social media reacts to excruciatingly awkward moment between Devils Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.