Network Nine Australia commentators Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy have come under fire for comments they made about the Winter Olympics men’s figure skating competition.
From ABC.net:
While discussing the competitors’ costumes as part of last night’s Winter Olympics wrap, Molloy said: “They don’t leave anything in the locker room, these blokes, do they?”
McGuire replied: “They don’t leave anything in the closet either, do they?”
The long-time Channel Nine personality then described one competitor’s costume as “a bit of a brokeback”, referencing Ang Lee’s film about gay cowboys.
“A bit of Brokeback Mountain exercises – you can’t wear that,” Molloy responded.
Gay rights activist Gary Burns isn’t too pleased with the duo’s comments:
“They’re harmful to, particularly, gay youth who are living in isolated areas across the nation,” he said.
“These young kids look up to [McGuire] and when they hear these kinds of comments and [they’re] having issues with their own coming-out process, or low self-esteem or depression… they feel worthless.
“Channel Nine should sack both of them because they’re not fit to be broadcasters or to be involved in a television network when they use this kind of banter.”
Molloy is apparently an Australian comedian, so I’m not sure why he would be broadcasting a men’s figure skating competition in the first place. Quite frankly, I blame the television network for thinking that putting a comedian in that type of situation was a good idea.
But the kicker here is McGuire, who is a regular show host on Channel Nine, so he should have known better. How many media members need to get into trouble for making stupid comments on air before other members avoid situations like these entirely? It’s not a hard concept, just don’t say anything racial or homophobic on air and you should be fine. I mean, was he trying to impress Molloy with his horrible humor?
Considering there is a Facebook page dedicated to how McGuire is ruining the 2010 Winter Olympics coverage, maybe it’s time for Channel Nine to give this clown the boot.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
