Kevin Durant’s brother fired shots at Angel Reese over the Dream star’s recent comments regarding her childhood experience with Barbie dolls. During a Monday press conference, Reese claimed she did not have many dolls growing up because they did not represent her appearance. This statement quickly drew scrutiny regarding the historical availability of diverse toys.
Black culture critic Andre Williams addressed the claims in an Instagram video, accusing the WNBA star of dishonesty. He argued that Black Barbie dolls have existed for decades, long before Reese was born. Kevin Durant’s brother joined the social media discourse in the comments section, bluntly stating, “She Loves and Wants Attention So Bad.”
Historical records contradict the suggestion that Black dolls were unavailable during the star’s youth. According to Smithsonian Magazine, Mattel released the first Black Barbie designed by Kitty Black Perkins in 1980. Furthermore, Mattel introduced Christie, Barbie’s best friend, in 1968, which is widely considered the first original Black Barbie doll.
Critics also noted that Reese has previously acknowledged owning such dolls. On July 30, the Dream star thanked Cosmopolitan for a photoshoot on X, where her accompanying letter mentioned having Barbie dolls during her childhood. This follows the WNBA All-Star weekend, where Mattel released an Angel Reese Barbie, making her the second WNBA player to receive one after Sue Bird.
Reese has performed well since her April trade to the Atlanta Dream. She currently leads the league in rebounds, averaging 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game on 42.6% shooting.
