BBC non-sexist?

[Gob]

The BBC has received 674 complaints over John Inverdale’s comments about Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli’s appearance.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s final on Radio 5 live, Inverdale said Bartoli was “never going to be a looker”.

He said: “I just wonder if her dad, because he has obviously been the most influential person in her life, did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14 maybe, 'listen, you are never going to be, you know, a looker.

“'You are never going to be somebody like a Sharapova, you're never going to be 5ft 11, you're never going to be somebody with long legs, so you have to compensate for that.'”

Inverdale’s comment sparked outrage on Twitter, with one user calling him a “sexist dinosaur”.

Tom Jamieson tweeted: “John Inverdale's made me realise as a dad I need to work much harder to enrich my two daughters' lives by telling them how ugly they are.“

While Richard Kent said: ”John Inverdale needs to go. @bbc5live Are you going to allow him to carry on? Comments re Bartoli are appalling.“

A statement from the BBC said: “John is one of our most experienced presenters. The BBC has apologised for the comment made before Saturday’s final, as has John himself. John has also written a personal apology to Marion Bartoli.”

[dales]

[Econoline]

More to the point...

[Lord Jim]

Why hasn't he been charged with a hate speech crime?

I just wonder if his dad, because he has obviously been the most influential person in his life, did say to him when he was 12, 13, 14 maybe, "listen, you are never going to be, you know, a brainiac."

"You are never going to be somebody like Albert Einstein, or even Marvin Einstein, you're never going to have a 160 IQ, or likely even a 100 one, so you have to compensate for that. Sportscaster would be perfect."

[Gob]

[Sean]

What about poor Andy Murray who had to dance with her at the Champions' Ball...

[Gob]

Is it a dance or a raffle?

[Sean]

Are you saying that she looks like a meat tray?

[MajGenl.Meade]

The man's an idiot...... although it's probably true that only one of these two could hide behind her prize....



.... what Walter Bartoli actually said was

"When she was a little girl, on Sundays, she wanted to eat cookies, but I kept telling her that if she wanted to win Wimbledon one day, she had to play two more points before lunch," he said. "And as long as she did not win those two extra points, she was not allowed to eat cookies."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wire ... r=homepage

More points = more cookies! My kind of gal!

Meade

[Guinevere]

You bunch of sexist pigs!

From the Wimbledon Champions ball, Sunday night:


It's not like Andy Murray is anything much to look at, with his little rat-face, pointy Brit mouth and god awful teeth, but no one comments on his face or shape, even when he's had epic meltdown after epic meltdown.

[Gob]

He's not a bird though?

[Scooter]

Do your wives actually let you get away with comments like that without consequences?

[Gob]

I've only got one...

[Scooter]

And the remaining female half of the human race is exceedingly grateful for her sacrifice.

[Gob]

As they are for yours!

[Sean]

Do your wives actually let you get away with comments like that without consequences?

I thought I'd just check Scoot so I read her this thread.

Her reactions were thus: She thought that Inverdale's comments were terrible. She chuckled at my, Gob and Meade's comments and rolled her eyes at yours and Guin's.

So there's your answer!

[MajGenl.Meade]

You bunch of sexist pigs .... yadayadayada ..... but no one comments on his face or shape

To be fair, he might get a few negative comments if he dressed like a pork roast in saran wrap but even then if he could pull this.......



..... well, there you are then.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Doesn't matter where you get your appetite, as long as you go home for dinner.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I think that photo was from a Daily Mail "Spot the ball" contest?

[dales]

I'm so confused..........