Sports
Sports Network Terminates Veteran Announcer Over Backlash From Controversial Joke Downplaying Women
Clear Facts
- Bob Ballard, a seasoned Eurosport announcer, was terminated from his post due to a contentious joke he made regarding women taking too long to prepare.
- The comment occurred after the Australian Olympic swim team clinched a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, a situation which led to public backlash and eventually, his dismissal.
- Since then, Ballard has tendered an apology, stating that his intention was never to belittle or offend anyone.
Eurosport, a respected sports network, decided to sever ties with long-time announcer, Bob Ballard, following his remarks at the Paris Olympics regarding the length of time women take to prepare. Ballard’s comment was made lightheartedly after the Australian Olympic swim team’s victory.
Ballard, while commenting on the 4x100m freestyle relay team, mentioned, “finishing up” and “you know what women are like … hanging around, doing their makeup”. He made these comments as the team was exiting the pool area.
In his notable career spanning several decades, Ballard has been a consequential figure in sports broadcasting. His portfolio includes a wide range of international sports events, ranging from various Olympic games to World Championships. Nonetheless, his seemingly playful comment sparked outrage, even eliciting laughter from his co-commentator and former British swimming champion, Lizzie Simmonds, who labeled his comment as “outrageous”.
In light of the incident, Eurosport released a statement affirming Ballard’s dismissal, stating that the commentator had made an inappropriate comment during a segment of Eurosport’s coverage and would be banned from future broadcasts.
The Australian swim team, consisting of Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris and Shayna Jack, had just secured their fourth consecutive Olympic gold, surpassing teams from the U.S. and China. The team was in the middle of celebrating their win with the audience when Ballard made the controversial comment.
Following the outcry, Ballard, 64, expressed remorse for his remarks, “It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and if I did, I apologize,” he said, adding, “I am a massive advocate of women’s sport. I shall miss the Eurosport team dearly and wish them all the best for the rest of the Olympics.”
Ballard has since called on the public not to hold his co-host, Lizzie Simmonds, accountable, insisting that she was “nothing to do with this.”
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Redwolf
July 31, 2024 at 6:35 pm
If we start totally from scratch it takes me maybe 15 to 20 minutes to get ready to go somewhere. At a minimum it’s going to take my wife 30. More like 45 is usually the case. So I know exactly what the man meant. I’ve lived it for years. And if a bunch of panty wasted liberals don’t like that then too bad for them. He told the truth whether they like it or not.
Bob Stith
July 31, 2024 at 6:36 pm
What is outrageous is that kind of absurd hypersensitive. Good grief!
Jeanne Rossi
July 31, 2024 at 6:47 pm
Absolutely ridiculous. I am a woman and I would’ve just laughed, not because I think it’s true, but because it was just a joke. People are afraid to say anything these days. But to lose his job? That’s absolutely insane.
GCamp0
July 31, 2024 at 7:15 pm
So utterly typical of the times we live in. We might as well have robots (and actually, we already do in some cases) be sports announcers, or news anchors or anyone else in the limelight, lest a human make a loke that should be laughed at. Heaven forbid we offend anybody! We have lost our way and can’t laugh at ourselves anymore. This level of oversensitivity is sickening.
Lyn
July 31, 2024 at 7:17 pm
Rediculous reaction to a lighthearted joke. What’s the matter with people. Just looking for something to be offended by . As a woman I think this is a completely rediculous reaction . Pretty soon people wil stop ad libing all together For heavens sakes people get a grip.
Pythias
July 31, 2024 at 7:23 pm
Pretty harsh treatment for a long time employee. Perhaps they were just looking for an excuse to fire him. We all make mistakes. Have they never heard of forgiveness?
WOKE JOKES
July 31, 2024 at 7:24 pm
The entire world is on the brink of nuclear destruction and these whiners blubber about a factual comment.????
GFYs limperals.
Peter Storti
July 31, 2024 at 7:29 pm
Equity run amok! How does a comment about the time it takes women to get ready (a factual state of affairs) rise to the level of termination. When men in drag offending the majority of the population are praise as heroes? I have not seen where the Wokeists have found a way to put make-up on faster.
Dr. Dennis Bonnette
July 31, 2024 at 8:04 pm
This is a perfect example of the hypersensitivity to offense typical of today’s demands for social conformity and “correct speech.”
Typical of “woke” speech censorship is a total loss of a sense of humor. Political correctness has taken the “human” out of humanity.
The only thing I find offensive is the unjust termination of a popular sports commentator’s otherwise successful career for making an innocent joke.
Since when has it become an essential mark of our humanity to take offense at a spur of the moment attempt at harmless humor — saying something that would not have caused anything but gentle laughter a couple decades ago. We have programmed people to look for offenses at which to become incensed. What a pity!
Gary M Bennett
August 1, 2024 at 1:36 am
People are so thin skinned and overboard on political correctness that it is almost impossible to not offend someone no matter what you say !!!
Susan Penn
August 1, 2024 at 9:51 am
As a woman I find no disrespect in his remark. I do take time to look my best and so no offense is taken
If this seasoned commentator has been dismissed perhaps they should reconsider. If not I can only think they found a ridiculous reason to fire a valued employee. I hope he seeks legal help to right this wrong.
Lyn peer
August 1, 2024 at 1:10 pm
I think firing this man is total overkill and complete ly idiotic. What is the matter with people that they obviously look for reasons to be offended. Sounds to me they were looking for a reason to fire him and they latched on to this silly attempt a humor as an excuse . What a bunch of idiots.
Anna DeBlanc
August 1, 2024 at 9:40 pm
Absolutely rediculous!! The hypersensitivity is costing us good people. Of course, he wasn’t a diversity hire, so he’s expendable.
Beverly Soltwedel
August 14, 2024 at 7:19 pm
Just shows how ridiculous things have gotten. There was absolutely nothing wrong in his comment. FACT–most women do take their time getting ready for anything and everything. This world has gone to hell — since no one can say anything – no one was obviously offended-The only thing that is offensive to most people is stupidity and that that station who fired him is just plain and simple–STUPID!!
Beverly Soltwedel
August 14, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Just shows how ridiculous things have gotten. There was absolutely nothing wrong in his comment. FACT–most women do take their time getting ready for anything and everything. This world has gone to hell — since no one can say anything – no one was obviously offended-The only thing that is offensive to most people is stupidity and that that station who fired him is just plain and simple–STUPID!!
No I have not posted this anywhere