Owens stands by HOF decision: 'What I'm doing is not wrong'

NFL legend Terrell Owens' decision to not attend the 2018 Hall of Fame ceremony as an inductee has been heavily scrutinized this summer.

In an unprecedented decision, Owens will celebrate his induction at his alma mater, Chattanooga, instead of accepting his enshrinement in Canton, Ohio.

The former receiver is not apologizing for the controversy.

"It's always unfortunate and people have a lot to say when someone does something different, but what I'm doing is not wrong," Owens said at the ESPY Awards Wednesday, via ESPN. "(The media are) making the narrative more so about me offending the Hall of Famers, and that has nothing to do with it. I respect all of those Hall of Famers that have gone in before me and going in with me and after me."

Related: Look: Terrell Owens gifts custom shoes to 2018 Hall of Fame class

Owens won't receive an individual spotlight Aug. 4, but will prepare an acceptance speech that his family and friends will hear in Tennessee.

"For me I think, overall, everybody's obviously wondering what went into my decision," Owens said. "I think John Wooden said it best: 'Be more concerned about your character than your reputation.' I think what the noise is right now is more about my reputation than my actual character."

Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.