Funky Dineva is weighing in on the latest drama involving Claressa Shields after Pap spoke out suggesting she deserved the BET award instead of Aja Wilson. The reaction has people talking and now another layer has been added to the conversation. Welcome back to Shade Room I'm Marcus Hale and I'm glad you're here because we've got plenty to unpack today. [music] Today's spotlight is on Claressa Shields who's been hit with all kinds of labels online because of her connection to [music] Pap. Depending on who you ask, people have called her everything from Pap's mistress to his [music] entanglement, his pick me or his side chick and as Cris Cyborg once joked, it is duck hunting season. It's clear that social media has not been taking it easy on her. >> Oh she was riding with the with the yeah, we riding with the yeah, we got the we got THE OH YEAH. >> [screaming] >> WE GOT THE STOP DOWN TODAY. >> I JUST watched Funky Dineva's breakdown and he definitely [music] didn't hold back. While listening, I found myself agreeing with some of his points, but I also noticed a few things that deserved more context. So that's exactly what we're going to do here. If I think he made a solid argument, I'll say so. If I think he missed the mark, I'll explain why. None of this is personal, it's simply a discussion about the opinions being shared. If you want to find the clip, his comments start around the 55 or 56 minute mark of his June 30th live stream. During that segment, he reads Pap's post claiming Claressa should have taken home the BET award and then gives his thoughts on the situation and the public reaction. >> SHADY [screaming] BABY IN THE SHADE. >> FIRST, I'LL WALK THROUGH WHAT FUNKY DINEVA actually said and then I'll add my own perspective where I think [music] extra context matters. One of his biggest arguments was that Claressa struggles [music] with public appeal. In his view, she's someone many people find difficult to warm up to and he questioned whether that public perception may have played some role in how the BET Award outcome has been discussed. [music] Funky Dineva didn't stop there. He also argued that one of the biggest reasons Claressa receives so much criticism is because, in his opinion, [music] many people simply don't connect with her. He believes the frustration and backlash aren't only about one award, but about the overall impression she leaves on the public. He also said she gives social media far too much to work with by responding so often, making it easier for every new controversy to keep gaining attention. >> That was Claressa's hard to like. She's hard to like. And I'm not sure if her likability was a factor in her getting the award or not, but I can confidently say the reason why the general public does not share your same disappointment or outrage for Claressa Shields not winning is because the vast majority of us don't care what she wins or what she doesn't win because she's just not likable. Okay? And in this life >> To explain his point, he shared a personal story from his college days. According to him, he learned early on that being well-liked can sometimes open more doors than qualifications alone. His view was that people are often willing to go the extra mile for someone they genuinely enjoy, while someone with impressive credentials may still struggle if they fail to build that same connection. Whether that's fair or not, he believes that's just how people tend to operate. He also talked about a lesson his family taught him growing up. Instead of putting one person down to make another look better, they believed in lifting people up without tearing someone else apart. Looking at Claressa's recent public moments, he argued that many of the headlines and online exchanges have made it harder for people to rally behind her or view her in a more positive He even went as far as saying, figuratively speaking, that Claressa needs to step away from the spotlight for a while and [music] completely reset the way she presents herself publicly. In his opinion, she comes across as someone who needs more self-confidence, especially when dealing with social media. He believes she'd benefit from building more confidence, showing [music] greater self-assurance, and resisting the urge to react to every conversation happening online. >> And girl got to keep her hair done. >> Yes, Okay. >> Keeps it together. >> I love when I get my hair done cuz now I'll be like, I mean, I like makeup, don't get me wrong, but I'll be like, no makeup is needed. >> it. >> Nope. >> Mhm. Natural beauty. >> Funky Dineva kept pushing his argument even further. According to him, Claressa spends too much time trying to fit an image that doesn't naturally match who she is. He argued that she's chasing the Instagram model look and trying to project that polished baddie vibe. But in his opinion, it doesn't come across as authentic. He also said she's trying to break into the fashion space, even though he doesn't believe that's where her strengths are. He was especially critical of her style, saying many of her outfits missed the mark and don't leave the best impression. He even described her as rough and rugged and argued that she doesn't present the kind of femininity that many people expect from influencers or celebrities. He used even stronger language during his live stream, but I'm keeping this version clean while still explaining the point he was trying to make. His overall argument was that Claressa shouldn't be compared to the heavily curated social media personalities that dominate Instagram because in his opinion, she's simply a different type of public figure. He also referred to her as ignorant, adding another layer to his criticism of how she carries herself in life. >> Life. And this is a lesson for all of y'all because what Claressa Shields is going through with these BET Awards [music] is an example of something that I went through in college and I learned this lesson the very hard way. It hurt my feelings. Being liked will get you far more further than being qualified. Being liked will get you further than being qualified. Being liked will get you further than being qualified. People will move mountains for people that they like. People will adjust job descriptions and requirements for people that they like. People will overlook transgressions for people that they like. Claressa Shields is hard to like, Papoose. >> At the same time, Funky Dineva acknowledged that there is a real double standard between men's and women's boxing. He pointed out that male athletes often receive far more grace, even after behavior that draws criticism, and many still land major opportunities, awards, and public support. He argued that women rarely receive that same level of forgiveness. [music] In his view, that challenge stretches far beyond boxing and affects many professions. He added that women, especially black women, [music] are often expected to be more polished, more careful, and work significantly harder than everyone else just to receive the same level of recognition and respect. >> I think we would have a lot more grace in the world if they understood that discipline is the key, consistency. People like to do stuff three times in a row, four times in a row, five times in a row, but oh well, where's my reward? And it was like, try 60 days. >> Funky Dineva also argued that one of Claressa Shields' biggest missteps was publicly going after Laila Ali. In his opinion, Laila represents [music] the gold standard for women's boxing when it comes to professionalism, class, grace, and building a respected brand that reaches far beyond the sport. He believes she's the example many fighters should [music] look to if they want long-term success. He went on to say that Laila Ali has earned a level of respect that very few athletes ever achieve. From his perspective, criticizing someone with that kind of legacy didn't help Clarissa at all. Instead, he feels it damaged her own image because Laila is someone with years of credibility, strong industry relationships, [music] and a reputation that opens doors. His argument was that building a positive connection with someone like Laila could have created valuable opportunities >> [music] >> rather than unnecessary conflict. According to Funky Dineva, those relationships could have led to major brand partnerships, >> [music] >> bigger business opportunities, and access to influential circles that go well beyond prize money inside the ring. He [music] believes that kind of exposure can be just as valuable as winning championships, >> [music] >> especially when you're trying to build a lasting career outside of boxing. >> She's hard to like. Now, my mama told me, "Never tear nobody down without extending a hand to lift them up." I'm finna give you the key. Now, whether you choose to take it and unlock the door, that's up to you and Clarissa. The reason that Clarissa Shields is hard to like is because she's in that category of celebrities that I call people we should not know personally. >> He also repeated a point he's made before saying that [music] Clarissa keeps giving people online new reasons to criticize her. In his view, the more she responds publicly, the more attention every controversy receives, making it harder to move past the latest headlines. To illustrate that idea, he brought up Beyoncé as an example. He noted [music] that fans actually know very little about her personal life because she rarely shares it online. Most of what the public sees are carefully chosen photos from performances, [music] major events, album releases, or tour announcements. Beyond that, Beyoncé [music] keeps a great deal of her private personality out of the spotlight, and Funky Dineva suggested that maintaining those boundaries can [music] sometimes work in a public figure. Funky Dineva continued by pointing to Beyoncé as an example of how some celebrities carefully control what the public gets to see. >> You know, try a year of never missing a gym. Try eating healthy every single day for 6 months. And And also, on top of working out and drinking your water and taking your supplements. And then see what happens. So, I'm one of the people that know that um sacrifice and consistency and discipline wins fights. >> He said that fans had a much better sense of her personality during the Destiny's Child years and the beginning of her solo career. But, after the controversy surrounding her pregnancy with Blue Ivy, including the viral moment during the Diane Sawyer interview that sparked endless online speculation, he believes everything changed. According to him, that entire situation created so much discussion [music] that Beyoncé gradually stopped giving people access to her personal life. Whether people were debating the rumors or questioning what really happened, the attention became overwhelming. In his view, that's one reason she rarely does traditional interviews today and why most people only see the carefully managed public version of her instead of getting a deeper look at her personality. >> All that you hoes done did. I done did that. What you going to make this year? I done spent that. That bag it made in China. He better take that back. Or they can kick me out the head. They trying to get that rent back. Hold on. >> Bringing the conversation back to Claressa Shields, Funky Dineva argued that she would benefit from taking a similar approach, although with a different focus. He believes her energy should stay centered on boxing, training, preparing for fights, making official announcements, and speaking in interviews about her career inside the ring. His opinion was that everything outside those topics often creates distractions that end up overshadowing her accomplishments. He also made the point that no one can successfully be everything to everybody. In his view, people are usually remembered for the talent that made them successful in the first place, >> [music] >> and he believes Claressa's greatest strength is unquestionably her boxing career. That's the lane where she is already built an incredible resume and earned worldwide recognition. >> There's a small group of celebrities that we should not know personally. We should only know them for their art, for their craft. Claressa is one of those. We don't need to know her personally because everything she's shown us personally is off-putting. The only >> Funky Dineva's overall message was that Claressa seems too focused on chasing an image beyond the sport. He argued that she's trying to compete in spaces that aren't the reason people first supported her. As he put it, your crown is boxing. In his opinion, her championships, achievements, and reputation inside the ring are what truly set her apart, and he questioned why she would trade that identity for one built around trends or online attention. Funky Dineva summed it up by saying that in his [music] opinion, Claressa keeps looking at the success other people have in wanting to wear their crown instead of fully embracing her own. If someone is known for being a social media baddie, he believes she wants that image. If another person is celebrated for being a devoted wife, he says she wants that, too. If fashion influencers are getting attention, he argues she wants to step into that world. And if musicians are dominating the spotlight, he feels he wants a piece of that, as well. >> [music] >> His point was simple. Chasing every trend can pull you away from the lane where you've already proven yourself. I have to admit that's one part of his commentary I actually agree with. His argument was that Claressa has achieved more in boxing than most athletes could ever dream of, yet sometimes those accomplishments seem to get overshadowed because she's focused on building a completely different image. [music] He also suggested that many of the lifestyles and aesthetics people chase online are built around appearance, image, and public validation rather than lasting achievements. According to Funky Dineva, unless [music] she doubles down on the sport that made her a champion, these conversations are likely to keep repeating themselves. He believes the cycle won't end if the focus stays on online attention instead of boxing, and I can understand why he sees it that way. That said, I think there's one important piece missing from his overall argument. Setting everything else aside, A'ja Wilson had an outstanding year and built a very [music] strong case for winning that BET award. Regardless of how anyone feels about Claressa, it's reasonable to recognize A'ja's accomplishments on their own merits. I also think it's worth pointing out that this isn't the first time the discussion around the award has shifted toward criticizing the winner after the results were [music] announced. In my opinion, that takes attention away from the person who actually earned the honor, and that's not the direction the conversation should go. Another point I think deserves attention is Claressa's public association [music] with Pap while he's still viewed through the lens of a highly publicized relationship history. Whether people think it's fair or not, that topic [music] continues to follow the conversation, and it's one of the biggest reasons she keeps facing criticism online. Many people simply aren't willing to support relationships they believe began under controversial circumstances, and that [music] perception has become part of the public discussion. Looking at everything Funky Dineva said, I actually agreed with a lot of his overall message. [music] The one thing I felt was missing though, was more recognition for Aja Wilson. She put together an incredible run and had a resume that made a very strong case for winning that BET award. Regardless of anyone else's opinions, her accomplishments deserve to be acknowledged on their own merits. Funky Dineva also mentioned the brand [music] opportunities and endorsements, but when you compare public visibility and commercial partnerships, there's still a noticeable gap. That's another reason why building the right public image can matter just as much as success inside the ring. At the end of the day [music] though, I think Claressa and Paff would both benefit from putting less energy into social media reactions and both focusing more on what they can actually control [music] instead of getting pulled into every online debate. It's also hard not to notice that many viewers have pointed out how different Paff's public approach seems today compared to years ago. >> [music] >> That contrast has become part of the conversation and it's one more reason people continue to analyze every move. Whether that changes over time remains to be seen. [music] That's all for today's video. Let me know what you think in the comments. Do you agree with Funky Dineva's perspective or do you see the situation differently? If you enjoyed this breakdown, don't forget to like the video, subscribe to the channel, share it with [music] someone who follows this story, and hit the notification bell so you don't miss the next upload. Thanks for watching Shady Ari. I'm Marcus Hall and I'll catch you in the next [music] one. Stay safe everyone.