Amanda Balionis responds to calls for her to be sacked over Rickie Fowler interview

CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis has taken to social media to hit back

Amanda Balionis (Image: Getty Images)

Amanda Balionis has hit back at detractors following her Saturday CBS interview with Rickie Fowler at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

This follows last week’s furore when she was criticised for apparently casting aspersions on Rory McIlroy during her PGA Championship chat with Bryson DeChambeau. Balionis subsequently took to Instagram to reassert her views on the duties of an interviewer.

The next day, Balionis fired back on Instagram, targeting ‘People pleasers’ who had seemingly taken umbrage at her comments. Now, less than a week later, the 38-year-old is fighting back once more.

This time, it’s in reaction to her interview with Fowler. The American golfer delivered a commendable 3-under third round, leaving him just four strokes adrift of joint leaders Ben Griffin and Matti Schmid in third place.

In their post-round discussion, Balionis pointed out Fowler’s putting average, which currently ranks him 125th on the PGA Tour but saw him climb into the top 10 at the Colonial Country Club. She also broached what it felt like for him to be back in contention for a title after being stuck in what she termed ‘neutral’.

However, it appears viewers were not entirely satisfied with what they heard and expressed their dissatisfaction – something Balionis was quick to respond to.

After revealing some of the intense criticism she’s faced, Balionis said: “When we talk about being you instead of trying to be what you think others perceive as ‘perfect’ or ‘good enough’…here is an example of how the latter is simply an impossible and draining task.”

Amanda Balionis calls out her trolls on Instagram (Image: Instagram)

She proceeded to share two damning messages, one which read: “CBS should have fired Amands some time ago. She is a highly unprofessional journalist. Her job is to be a journalist NOT to be a giggling, flirtatious high school girl.”

And the second read: “Hey, could you be a little positive in your interviews and not bring up negative stats. Example, Rickie Fowler and 125 something and stuck in neutral. Very negative interview.”

Further demonstrating the extent of the vitriol, another comment derided her directly upon CBS announcing their lineup with Balionis included, stating flatly: “Balionis gotta go. She is horrendous.”

Amidst the influx of derogatory comments, Balionis offered her perspective, “You’re always going to be ‘too something’ for somebody. It’s a lot easier to be yourself and figure out what feedback is actually worth listening to (spoiler: it’s never the trolls you don’t know) rather than trying to be what everyone else wants.

“Nobody wants the same thing and you’ll end up turning yourself into an unrecognizable pretzel. Okay that’s all. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk that absolutely nobody asked for.”

CBS usually posts Balionis’s interviews on social media, but the Fowler clip was never released. Balionis will be back at work from Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday.