Johnny Weir certainly put on one of the more showy figure skating routines Thursday night. But his flashy costume is taking a back seat to allegedly homophobic remarks from two Australian sports broadcasters.
EMAIL
| PRINT
| REPORT TYPO
| SEND YOUR FEEDBACK
|
Australian broadcasters blasted for homophobic remarks
- February 20, 2010 4:31 PM |
- By John Shmuel
Story provided by
Johnny Weir certainly put on one of the more showy figure skating routines Thursday night. But his flashy costume is taking a back seat to allegedly homophobic remarks from two Australian sports broadcasters.
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy, who were providing commentary for the men's figure skating event for Australia's Channel Nine, have landed themselves in hot water after numerous complaints were made to the TV station.
Below is a summary of some of the controversial remarks they made during the various men's figure skating routines:
- The pair expressed shock that one of the men's figure skaters wasn't gay (and added it probably wasn't flambouyant U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir)
- Molloy also made the following comment while a procession of male figure skaters was shown on screen: "They don't leave anything in the locker room these blokes, do they?" to which McGuire responded "They don't leave anything in the closet either, do they?"
- During Japan's Daisuke Takahashi's routine, McGuire said the skater's cowboy-themed costume "was a bit of Brokeback," referring to a film where actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger portray two men who have a romantic relationship together.
A Facebook page has been created called 'Eddie McGuire is ruining the 2010
Winter Olympics coverage,' and complaints were also made to the New South
Wales Anti-Discrimination Board.
Photo: American figure skater Johnny Weir. Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
About the Author
- Bruce Arthur Bruce Arthur is the National Post's national sports columnist. A Vancouver native, he has been with the Post since 2001, and a columnist since 2005. He is covering his second Olympics, after the 2008 Games in Beijing. He expects these Games to be slightly less propagandistic, and for China to win slightly fewer medals.
- Joe O'Connor Joe O'Connor is a roving sports feature writer with an open-ended beat. He joined the National Post in 2002, and has spent the past seven years bouncing from sport to sport, offering fresh perspectives and delivering unique stories wherever he goes. Whether it has been getting Don Cherry to open up about his love life; George Chuvalo to talk about heartbreaking loss; or racing down the side of a mountain with former Crazy Canuck, Dave Irwin, the veteran Postie chases a story wherever it leads. Before joining the newspaper he was a two-time silver medalist at the National Magazine Awards. Vancouver will be his first Olympics.
Recent Entries
- To Iginla, Crosby's call sounded like gold
- "Iggy!" It's a scream Jarome Iginla has heard many times in his career. But never this loudly, never with so much urgency.... Continue reading this post
- Olympic Memories: Heartbreak and triumph
- For all the moments that made you so damned happy you wanted to cry -- the triumph of Alex Bilodeau and his brother Frederic, the delirium of Marianne St-Gelais as she watched her boyfriend Charles Hamelin win gold, the pure... Continue reading this post
- Olympic Memories: The strength of a lion
- It happened in a blink. A skier was skittering down a steep and icy slope at Whistler Olympic Park and disappeared into the woods.... Continue reading this post
