Curt Schilling Facing Backlash for Revealing Tim Wakefield Has Cancer
Former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling is facing harsh criticism for revealing a serious health issue that a former teammate is battling.
Schilling, who hosts The Curt Schilling Baseball Show, told his audience Wednesday that former teammate Tim Wakefield was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Schilling also revealed that Wakefield’s wife is currently in the middle of a battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Tim Wakefield … the knuckleballer, is sick,” Schilling began. “And I talked to Doug Mirabelli yesterday, and it’s not a message that Tim has asked anyone to share and I’m not even sure if he wants it shared. But as a Christian and a man of faith, I have seen prayer work, and so I’m going to talk about it. …Tomorrow is never, ever a given. Tim’s wife, Stacy, who is one of the sweetest women you’ll ever meet, is very sick with pancreatic cancer. … We’re all thinking about them and praying for her. But recently, Tim was diagnosed with a very serious, very aggressive form of brain cancer.”
Schilling added later in the clip that Wakefield has undergone surgery, and it is an “incredibly serious” situation.
Schilling, who seemingly revealed the information without the consent of Wakefield, was quickly ripped on social media as the news spread of his former teammate’s diagnosis.
The Red Sox released a statement Thursday afternoon, with the consent of Tim and Stacy Wakefield, confirming that the information was shared without permission by Schilling.
“We are aware of the statements and inquiries about the health of Tim and Stacy Wakefield. Unfortunately, this information has been shared publicly without their permission. Their health is a deeply personal matter they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to tackle this disease. Tim and Stacy are appreciative of the support and love that has been extended to them and respectfully ask for privacy at this time.”
The #RedSox today issued the following statement with permission from Tim and Stacy Wakefield: pic.twitter.com/iQqkhxRSyt
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 28, 2023
Catherine Varitek, the wife of Schilling’s and Wakefield’s former teammate, Jason Varitek, did not mince words on social media.
“F— you Curt Schilling, that wasn’t your place!” she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Apple TV soccer analyst Taylor Twellman also weighed in critically on Schilling’s decision to release the news without Wakefield’s consent.
“This is NOT your place [Curt Schilling]. It wasn’t your news to share. BS,” he wrote.
Observers were livid with Schilling’s decision to go public with the news about the Wakefields.
Curt Schilling is an abhorrent individual https://t.co/kSHmQrbUGS
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) September 28, 2023
Curt Schilling is such a massive asshole. https://t.co/ZeNQW3ZRTL
— Lucy Burdge (@LucilleBurdge) September 28, 2023
Curt Schilling said on his podcast the Wakefields are fighting cancer. Hard to imagine why he would do that, but he did. To say that people with the Sox and others around Tim and Stacy are furious is an understatement.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) September 28, 2023
All the best to the Wakefields, who are very nice people. https://t.co/Zn2g6YGsGp
What a despicable, awful act by Curt Schilling. Unthinkable.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 28, 2023
Curt Schilling is trash. Been trash. Will be trash. Trash in perpetuity.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) September 28, 2023
The extent to which Curt Schilling fucking sucks is remarkable
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) September 28, 2023
Curt Schilling - @gehrig38 - is a scumbag and always has been. But this, transcending even his racism, homophobia, and hate-filled existence - is his new low. https://t.co/odcKcw0qiz
— Keith Olbermann⌚️ (@KeithOlbermann) September 28, 2023
It's never too late for the Red Sox and Phillies to make Schilling persona non grata. The Red Sox inducted Schilling into the team Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Phillies into their Wall of Fame in 2013. They can undo that.
— Bill Baer (@Baer_Bill) September 28, 2023