Thursday, August 11, 2016

NBC Sportscaster Calls Lesbian Volleyball Player’s Wife Her “Husband” In Live Rio Coverage

You can do better, NBC.
From: NewNowNext
 NBC Sports commentator Chris Marlowe issued an apology Tuesday night after referring to Brazilian beach volleyball player Larissa Franca’s wife, Liliane Maestrini, as her “husband” during live Olympic coverage.

The incendiary comment was broadcast just after Franca and her beach volleyball partner Talita Anunes won a match against Team USA, and the cameras panned to Franca exchanging celebratory hugs with people in the audience.

“She gives a hug to Lili,” Marlowe said. “That is her husband. She married Lili in 2013.”


Criticism came swiftly on Twitter, with many condemning NBC for putting someone so obviously inept in the commentator’s chair.

“I saw this live and was confused when the commentator said ’husband,'” out former basketballer Jason Collins tweeted. “C’mon.”

The apology Marlowe issued to OutSports in the wake of the controversy was dismissive at best.

“I’m sorry for the mistake today,” he said. “Clearly, Liliane is Larissa’s wife.”


USA Today notes the gaffe was just one of many that NBC has been criticized for during the last few days of initial Olympic coverage:

Gymnastics announcer Al Trautwig refused to call Simone Biles’ adoptive parents her actual parents. Dan Hicks told viewers that the husband and coach of Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu “the guy responsible” for her success. According to Outsports.com, NBC failed to acknowledge the boyfriend/fiance of British men’s synchronized diving competitor Tom Daley during Monday’s broadcast even as cameras focused in on him in the stands.

Fortunately, the 2016 Olympic Games have been called the most LGBT-friendly in history, boasting an impressive 44 openly gay athletes.
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