“Go hang out with the ladies … I mean, I wanna go see some scantily clad girls,” Booker can be heard saying in aclip shared on Twitter, laughing off the comment as an idea for a Valentine’s Day date night.
Richard Cross, the other announcer engaging in banter with Booker, quickly distanced himself from the remark, explaining that gymnastics events are “one of the great family atmospheres that you will find in all of college athletics.”
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According to theWashington Post, this is Booker’s sixth season as an analyst for the network after previously working at Fox Sports, CBS Sports and ESPN.
“I was mostly disappointed with the comment due to the ill intent and the sexualizing of a sport that has already faced so much when it comes to sexual abuse,” said McGlone, 22. “A lot of times gymnasts are already seen in a negative manner for what we have to wear, and the fact that a trained professional would make such a comment was just discomforting.”
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Booker could not immediately be reached for comment. ESPN and SEC Network had no further comment.
Greg Sankey, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, issued astatementon Sunday, saying that the remarks “do not meet the expectations we have for the SEC Network.”
He continued: “We are in communication with the SEC Network and ESPN personnel, and I am confident this issue will be handled appropriately.”
source: people.com
