ESPN’s Dick Vitale planted a big kiss right on Ashley Judd’s mouth at Sunday's SEC championship game between Kentucky and Arkansas in an exuberant display that the actress blamed on the “crazy joy” of March Madness and love for the Wildcats.
The New York Daily News called it “the image that can’t be unseen,” but Judd didn’t seem to take offense:
The Internet, however, nearly combusted over the kiss:
“This might be the most awkward kiss ever captured on camera,"
the LostLettermen sports blog wrote. "Before Kentucky’s SEC tournament title game against Arkansas, ESPN’s Dick Vitale gave Wildcats superfan Ashley Judd a 'good luck' kiss right on the lips in Nashville. From the looks of it, she would have rather taken her chances without the smooch.”
The Wildcats beat the Razorback 78-63.
Despite a proliferation of “gross” jokes, the
Chicago Tribune’s Shannon Ryan pointed out that “the photo should make us all feel as uncomfortable as Judd looked, the long-time Kentucky fan and actress leaning back as Vitale leans in.”
“Why do we think it's cute, let alone acceptable, when old men are physically or verbally inappropriate with women, especially younger women?” Ryan wondered.
Others on social media shared Ryan’s view:
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