'Despicable': Outrage over announcer's 'disgusting' school girls comment
A school sports announcer in America has been condemned after making “shocking” comments about the names of girl in a rival team.
The school in the Oklahoma district was forced to issue an apology after the longtime announcer referred to the names of opposition players as "pretty disgusting".
Lorna Pollard, whose daughter plays basketball for Crooked Oak High School in Oklahoma City, captured the controversial incident after filming the start of the match at Newkirk High School.
In part of the video clip, the announcer can be heard saying, "Now their names are pretty disgusting, but I'm going to try to call them out," in reference to the travelling team.
Stunned reactions could be seen on the faces of the young players and in the voices of those in the crowd after the inexplicable comment.
Pollard claims that people associated with the Newkirk school tried to defend the announcer, saying: "the man was old and he didn't mean it like that."
"But that's exactly what he meant," Pollard wrote. "...there is no excuse or ignorance in 2020."
Crooked Oak High School principal Laura Knight was at the game and described the comments as "shocking".
The video has sparked widespread outrage in America, with many viewers branding the announcer "racist" in lieu of the fact that many players from the Crooked Oak High School are Native American.
This is from a small town basketball game in Newkirk, Oklahoma where there are a lot of Native American and minority players. The old white guy on the PA says some of the girls names for the visiting team are “disgusting” during introductions. Racist!https://t.co/CuGxVyYCV3
— Brett Chapman (@brettachapman) February 23, 2020
That old guy is disgusting
— General William T. Sherman (@secularagnostic) February 23, 2020
OMG! He needs to lose his job!
— Yarnover Flamingeau (@YarnoverChicago) February 23, 2020
Fire him now. No excuse.
— MontanaNerd (@nerd_montana) February 23, 2020
I hope he was reprimanded for his rude behaviour.. Dispicable man.
— Forest Queen (@ForestQueen7) February 23, 2020
What a jerk. If he is that old and racist maybe he shouldn't be working around children.
— MamaGina (@Ginas1369) February 23, 2020
ONLY ON 5! @KOCOPorsha spoke exclusively to members of the Crooked Oak girls b-ball team after a Newkirk announcer called their unique names "disgusting" during a district title game. What the girls have to say and what the district is saying — LISTEN NOW! https://t.co/hWJVTBVYDC
— Patrina Adger (@KOCOPatrina) February 23, 2020
School apologises for announcer’s comment
Ms Knight later confirmed that Newkirk removed the announcer and replaced him "with a person that went to lengths to ensure that everything else was announced correctly."
"Their administration sought out ours to apologise," Knight wrote.
"Their fans, administrations and coaches treated us well. I know that does not take away the hurt, but please know that they took care of it, it was not ignored."
After the match, Newkirk Public Schools Superintendent Brady Barnes issued an immediate apology for the announcer's "unfortunate and inappropriate personal comment."
"In around 20 years of announcing Newkirk games, this is the first time something like this has occurred," the statement read. "While he did not make any similar comments, I made the decision to replace him at halftime."
Crooked Oak became district champions after winning the match, with their principal commending the girls for handling the adversity "beautifully".
