Stephen Curry attacks treatment of women after former players criticize wife Ayesha’s movie kiss

Warriors star defends wife over romantic comedy role

Arenas called Ayesha ‘only blemish’ on Curry family

Four-time NBA champion condemns double standards

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has criticized several ex-professional athletes for questioning his wife Ayesha’s decision to appear in a romantic comedy featuring an on-screen kiss, accusing them of diminishing her accomplishments and perpetuating double standards about women.

The four-time NBA champion posted a 90-second video on Instagram on Wednesday in response to comments by former NBA players Gilbert Arenas and Nick Young, as well as former NFL players Emmanuel Acho and LeSean McCoy, following the release of Ayesha Curry’s new film, Second Chance Holiday.

The romantic comedy, which premiered on the Roku Channel on 5 November, features Ayesha in her first leading film role opposite actor Matthew Daddario. A scene in which Ayesha Curry and Daddario kiss prompted criticism from several former athletes, who questioned her participation in the film and discussed its implications for her marriage.

Curry said the commentary had crossed a line by diminishing his wife’s professional achievements.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of noise, and usually the noise doesn’t bother me, doesn’t bother Ayesha,” Curry said in the video, which he captioned “PSA”.

“But this one, trying to step on the accomplishments of my wife and obviously, leading podcast tables and topics and giving their opinion on somebody else’s wife,” he continued, naming Young, Arenas and Acho.

Curry said the remarks reflected a broader problem with attitudes toward women, and the expectations placed upon them.

“It kind of speaks to a bigger conversation about how you view women in this world and what they’re all allowed and not allowed to do,” he said, also questioning the former athletes’ understanding of acting.

Curry has previously spoken out about gender equality. In a 2018 essay for the Players’ Tribune calling for an end to the gender pay gap, he credited his wife and mother for shaping his views on women’s rights and opportunities. He wrote that one of the most important lessons they had taught him was to challenge society’s expectations of women and “always stay listening to women, to always stay believing in women”.

Arenas, a three-time NBA All-Star selection who began his career with Golden State, had described Ayesha as the “only blemish” on Curry’s family life during a recent episode of his podcast, arguing that she did not behave like the wives of other prominent basketball players.

Young, who played alongside Curry on the Warriors’ 2018 championship team, also took part in the conversation. McCoy separately question Ayesha’s decision to film the romantic scene.

Curry, who has generally avoided publicly engaging with criticism of his family, suggested the ex-players owed his wife an apology.

“Obviously I tried to laugh this one off, but something needs to be said,” he said. “Anytime Ayesha Curry shows up in your headline, I kindly suggest you just give the happy hands, congratulations, and maybe, just maybe, the apology can be as loud as y’all leading your shows with this topic.”

He closed by thanking the commentators for bringing attention to the film, encouraging viewers to watch it on Roku.

The Warriors guard accompanied the video with photographs of his wife promoting the movie and a message encouraging her to “Keep shining”. He also appeared to take another swipe at the commentators in his caption, writing: “You don’t have to like & subscribe to all podcasts.”

His sister, Sydel Curry-Lee, supported the response in the comments, writing: “HEAVY on how it speaks about how the world views women. Play with someone else. Enough is enough!”

Ayesha Curry is an actor, cookbook author and entrepreneur who has appeared in television and film projects for nearly two decades. Her previous credits include an appearance on Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana and a supporting role alongside Lindsay Lohan in the 2024 Netflix romantic comedy Irish Wish.

Stephen and Ayesha Curry married in 2011 and have four children.

Curry’s post came as Golden State, at joint-third in the Western Conference standings with an 8-3 record, prepared to face the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in the opening game of a five-game road trip.