Thom Brennaman Suspended After Using Homophobic Slur
The Reds' broadcaster used the F-word on-air coming back from commercial break.
Last night, during the FOX Sports Ohio broadcast of the first game of the Reds’ doubleheader against the Royals, play-by-play man Thom Brennaman used a homophobic slur at the end of a commercial break, saying that some as yet unknown location was “one of the [f-slur] capitals of the world.” Brennaman didn’t realize the broadcast had returned and his mic was on, so the comment was heard live on-air.
Video of Brennaman’s comment spread like wildfire over the Internet. Brennaman finished calling the rest of the first game and called the second game normally until the fifth inning, when he issued an on-air apology for his remark. At the same time, outfielder Nick Castellanos hit a solo home run, which created one of the more awkward TV moments in recent history:
If you can’t or don’t want to watch the video, Brennaman begins his apology right as Nick Castellanos hits a solo home run. Brennaman interrupts his own apology to call the home run:
I think of myself as a man of faith. There’s a drive to deep left field by Castellanos, it will be a home run. That’ll make it a 4-0 ballgame. I don’t know if I’m gonna be putting on this headset again. I don’t know if it’s gonna be for the Reds, I don’t know if it’s gonna be for the bosses at FOX. I want to apologize to the people who sign my paycheck for the Reds, for FOX Sports Ohio, for the people I work with. For anybody I’ve offended tonight, I can’t begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am. That is not who I am, it never has been and I’d like to think maybe I could have some people that can back that up. I am very, very sorry and I beg for your forgiveness. Jim Day will take you the rest of the way home.
Brennaman then left the booth. It is interesting to note that Brennaman did not mention the community he directly hurt with his comment. He apologized to basically everyone else while expressing concern for his paycheck. He also used the well-worn cliché, “That is not who I am,” as if an alien mind-controlled him and forced him to utter that word.
The Reds issued a statement after the game, condemning Brennaman’s use of the homophobic slur and saying the broadcaster has been suspended effective immediately. FOX Sports Ohio also condemned Brennaman.
Cincinnati Reds @Reds
https://t.co/cdmmqsGjlgReds relief pitchers Amir Garrett and Matt Bowman expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community:
MLB, its individual teams, and its broadcast partners are on heightened alert for bigotry given the events of this year that have shined a spotlight on xenophobic behavior in the U.S. The Reds and FOX Sports Ohio had to take quick and decisive action, taking Brennaman off the air and issuing a public statement. MLB will likely issue a statement of its own on Thursday echoing what the Reds said, and they’ll likely also put Billy Bean – the league’s VP and special assistant to commissioner Rob Manfred – to work to deflect some of the criticism.
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder and the ensuing playoffs, MLB teams issued statements condemning bigotry and promising to make efforts to be better. The Reds, in a June 3 statement, said they “are committed to bringing positive change, greater equality and inclusiveness throughout all of our communities.” Many teams issued statements of their own expressing similar sentiment.
It is great that sports teams are more cognizant of their role in society, but bigotry is much bigger than a broadcaster making an off-hand comment or a player making a racist gesture during the playoffs. It starts in American homes, where bigoted children are raised in bigoted families. Those kids get signed up to play tee-ball and play recreationally with their bigoted friends who were also raised in bigoted families. Some go on to play baseball for their high schools and continue into college, the minor leagues, and then Major League Baseball, getting plenty of exposure to teammates, opponents, parents, and coaches who are just as or more bigoted than them, reinforcing their behavior. Other kids end up going to college to major in journalism and communications, becoming writers, broadcasters, audio engineers, camera operators, and program directors. Brennaman felt comfortable saying what he said because the people around him allowed him to feel comfortable because they agreed with him, didn’t care, or because they didn’t feel comfortable speaking up.
The U.S. has seen clear victories and increasing support for the LGTBQIA community in recent years. However, it was only this year that gay and transgender people got federal protection from workplace firings, thanks to a 6-3 ruling from the Supreme Court. A majority of Americans support businesses that refuse to serve LGBT customers, citing religious beliefs. Police continue to terrorize LGBT people. According to a study by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, LGBT youth are at a 120% higher risk for homelessness. Nearly one in five hate crimes are motivated by being anti-LGBTQ, per the FBI last year. There are myriad statistics that show LGBTQ+ people remain second-class citizens in the U.S.
Homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, and all other kinds of bigotry are not issues the sport of baseball can cure by itself; it can only tamp them down like an unwinnable game of whack-a-mole. It is great that the Reds and FOX Sports Ohio reacted relatively quickly after Brennaman made his comment. It is great that MLB and the teams are more aware of social justice issues. But, ultimately, we have a rot in our society. We will continue to get bigoted baseball players, bigoted coaches, bigoted front office members, and bigoted broadcasters for as long as this remains true. It starts with us teaching our children, our families, our friends, our neighbors, and our coworkers that bigoted behavior is unacceptable. It continues with us refusing to elect bigoted politicians and it involves us demanding more of the representatives we do put in power. It is all of us, not just Thom Brennaman or whoever the next bad actor is, who need to do better.
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