Longtime tennis analyst, Tennis Channel commentator and 60 Minutes contributor Jon Wertheim has been suspended indefinitely after feedback he made about concerning the look of world No. 10 Barbora Krejcikova have been caught on a sizzling mic as he prepped for an look on the channel’s TC Dwell.
Wertheim defined his facet of what occurred through a social media submit. He additionally apologized.
“Throughout a Tennis Channel studio present on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable feedback off-air. I acknowledge them. I apologise for them. I reached out instantly and apologised to the participant,” he wrote.
“What occurred? I joined the present by Zoom. In rehearsal we have been proven a graphic of a participant who had simply competed. It confirmed her at an angle that exaggerated her brow.
“A number of moments later, I used to be informed to border up my Zoom. I appeared on the low digital camera angle and joked that it made my brow resemble the photograph of the participant in query. Somebody within the management room chimed in and I bantered again. Although this was a non-public rehearsal, this trade inadvertently, and with out context, made it to reside air.
“I notice: I’m not the sufferer right here. It was neither skilled nor charitable nor reflective of the particular person I try to be. I’m accountable. I personal this. I’m sorry.”
Krejcikova later lamented that the incident “centered on my look somewhat than my efficiency,” earlier than persevering with.
“As an athlete who has devoted herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see the sort of unprofessional commentary.
“These moments distract from the true essence of sport and the dedication all athletes deliver to the sphere. I like tennis deeply, and I need to see it represented in a manner that honors the dedication we make to compete at this degree.”
The Tennis Channel issued its personal assertion, calling Wertheim’s language “inappropriate” and asserting that it had “instantly eliminated him from our air indefinitely.” The channel additionally apologized to Krejcikova.
Right here is that assertion in full:
When Tennis Channel turned conscious of an inappropriate remark a couple of skilled tennis participant made by our analyst Jon Wertheim on Friday, we instantly eliminated him from our air indefinitely. The community additionally apologized to the participant, Barbora Krejcikova, as did Jon. Jon has devoted his profession to shining a lightweight on and rising this sport and has been a valued member of our household and the tennis neighborhood. That stated, Tennis Channel holds its staff to a normal of respectfulness for others always, a normal that was not met on this second.
