Sports commentator dropped over racial remark on Venus Williams during Australian Open
US Broadcaster ESPN Has Dropped Commentator Doug Adler After He Compared Venus Williams To A “gorilla' At The Australian Open—although He Insisted The Word He Used Was “guerrilla'.
US broadcaster ESPN has dropped commentator Doug Adler after he compared Venus Williams to a “gorilla” at the Australian Open—although he insisted the word he used was “guerrilla”.
ESPN said Adler should have been more careful during his coverage of the seven-time Grand Slam-winner’s win over Stefanie Voegele.
“During an Australian Open stream on ESPN3, Doug Adler should have been more careful in his word selection,” an ESPN statement said.
“He apologised and we have removed him from his remaining assignments.”
During the second-round match on Wednesday, Adler, a 59-year-old former player, said: “She (Voegele) misses a first serve and Venus is all over her.
“You see Venus move in and put the gorilla effect on. Charging.”
Viewers were quick to register their distaste on social media, while tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg called it “appalling stuff”.
“Horrifying that the Williams sisters remained subjected to it still in 2017,” he tweeted.
A report on the ESPN website said: “Because the words gorilla and guerrilla are pronounced similarly, it’s impossible to say for certain which word Adler spoke.”
For all the Latest Sports News News, Tennis News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More from Sports News
Who Is The Greatest T20 Player Ever?Â
Winning The WWE Royal Rumble rule is the later one goes, the fresher he/she is says Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Kerala HC Lifts Ban: Online Rummy is a Game of Skill, Playing for Stakes or is not relevant
Women Hockey Stick ‘Rani 28’, set for the auction at the official website 'PM Mementos'
Pramod Bhagat's Badminton Racquet all set for the e-auction at the base price Rs.80,00,000