Angel Reese’s honest take: Fame’s struggles outweigh the spotlight

Angel Reese prefers to be rich than famous.Instagram @angelreese5

Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky‘s breakout WNBA star, isn’t holding back about the flip side of fame. The 22-year-old, who’s been a hoops sensation since her LSU championship days, dropped a raw truth bomb on her podcast Unapologetically Angel on March 13: “I’d rather be rich than famous.” It’s a candid take from a player who’s faced relentless social media heat, and her honesty’s striking a chord with fans tired of the online grind that comes with being in the spotlight.

Reese’s rise has been meteoric-SEC Player of the Year, a 2023 NCAA title, and now a rookie season with the Sky that’s turned heads. But with the accolades came a flood of toxicity. “People don’t realize what this s-t really does to you,” she said, reflecting on the barrage of hate she’s endured online.

From trolls mocking her stats to critics dragging her every move-especially after her playful rivalry with Caitlin Clark-Reese’s had to toughen up fast. “You gotta have thick skin, but it still gets to you sometimes,” she admitted, peeling back the curtain on stardom’s toll.

The “rich over famous” line came during a chat with guest Saweetie, where Reese got real about her priorities. “Fame brings all this noise-people in your business, tearing you down,” she explained. “I’d take the money and peace over that any day.” It’s not just talk-her net worth’s already climbing past $1.5 million, thanks to NIL deals from college and endorsements like Reebok and Beats by Dre. Yet, the paycheck doesn’t shield her from the X pile-ons, where she’s been called everything from “overrated” to worse, often with racial undertones she’s called out before.

How Social Media toxicity drives her to choose wealth over fame

Reese isn’t new to clapping back-she’s been vocal about double standards in women’s sports, once telling The Baltimore Banner, “I guess some people got a problem with me being confident.” But the constant scrutiny’s wearing thin. On Instagram Live last month, she hinted at the mental grind: “Y’all don’t see me crying, but it’s there.”

Her podcast’s become a safe space to vent, and fans are rallying behind her authenticity-posts on X praise her for “keeping it real” while juggling a pro career and a media empire at such a young age.

From LSU’s Bayou Barbie to WNBA standout, Reese’s journey shows fame’s a double-edged sword. Her “rich not famous” stance is less about greed and more about craving a break from the chaos.