"Love talking about sports & reading dumb misogynist comments" - When Justin Verlander's wife Kate Upton shut down trolls in clapback

Back in 2019, Kate Upon slammed internet trolls for their comments in epic fashion. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model took offense when fans made some lewd comments after she tried explaining a baseball play from the 2019 World Series that involved her husband Justin Verlander's then-team the Houston Astros.

In Game 6, there was a controversial call when the Washington Nationals' Trea Turner was adjudged while running to the first due to interference. The call was a bit ambiguous and demanded a lot of discussion as it was unclear whether Turner deliberately ran inside the line to cause interference.

Kate Upton, who was in the stands, tweeted her stance in favor of the Astros. She claimed Turner clearly veered away from the mandatory demarcated base running path in the final 45 feet from home to first base. As her tweet gained traction, internet trolls passed untoward and misogynist comments.

The following day, Upton took exception to these people, calling them out with a different tweet.

"I LOVE talking about sports and reading all of the dumb misogynist comments. It reminds me that women need to keep fighting for equality. It’s 2019 but feels like the 1950s. #feminist," Upton wrote.

Kate Upton thankful for far-reaching inclusivity

Kate Upton returned to SI Swimsuit in 2024 for a solo feature in Mexico followed by a group photo shoot involving other models. She spoke about her willingness to promote equality and inclusivity through her work.

In an Oct. 1 interview with Sports Illustrated, Upton explained her challenges and recognized how the world has developed and gotten more inclusive.

“So many things that I struggled with, people are shocked to hear I struggled with, which is such a sign of where the world is now—how inclusive everyone is, how offended people are when people say rude things about your body,” Upton said. “Now that’s the norm and it’s really exciting to be with the brand that promotes that.”

As a popular feminist figure, Upton rarely shies away from speaking her mind about women's rights. Her dedication to her work and her balance as a wife and mother have been influential for many people.