Sacked Olympic commentator hits back at "massive overreaction"
Fired Olympics commentator Bob Ballad has hit back at the "massive overreaction" to the sexist comments he made about the Aussie swim team that cost him his job at the Paris Games.
Ballard was sacked by EuroSport after making a sexist remark about Australia's female swimmers after their gold medal win in the 4x100m freestyle.
After the win, the former BBC commentator said, "Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.”
Ballard’s co-commentator Lizzie Simmonds laughed at the remark, calling it "outrageous".
The commentator was then sacked from the Games, issuing an apology statement online, saying, "It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and, if I did, I apologise."
However, speaking to British media outlet LBC on Tuesday, Ballard said the public's response to his sexist comments were an "overreaction".
He said, "I am overwhelmed by the reaction I’ve had from the British public."
"It was a throwaway line - some people might say it’s a bit old-fashioned but it was never meant to offend. It was never meant to upset everybody and I think there’s been a massive overreaction from my employers."
"I’m dealing with it as best I can right now."
These comments welcomed a fresh wave of backlash, with commenters on social media saying his sacking was the "right message to send" in response to everyday sexism.
One person wrote on X, "This sort of “joke” for women is part of the every day, sexist, chipping away we are used to. People (often men, but women too) say it’s harmless but consider very recent news to see how this can contribute to much worse attitudes to women. It was the right message to send."
Another person added, "Because even us oldies, who grew up in a different time, know it was inappropriate."
After Ballard's comments during the Olympics, his employer EuroSport issued a statement to confirm that he would be let go from his commentating position.
"During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment," EuroSport wrote online.
"To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect."
Images: Twitter (X) | Paul Kitagaki, Jr/ZUMA Press Wire | Shutterstock