Bob Ballard was referencing the Australian women's swimming team who had won gold in a freestyle relay.

A veteran sports commentator has been sacked from his Olympics role after making a sexist remark about Australian female swimmers following their gold medal win.

As the 4x100m freestyle relay team were making their way off the pool deck in Paris, Bob Ballard said they were “finishing up”, adding “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make up”.

The clip quickly went viral and broadcaster Eurosport later said he had been removed from the commentary line-up.

Ballard has yet to comment publicly on his remarks.

  • eatthecake@lemmy.worldEnglish
    72·
    4 months ago

    I don’t get society. It seems to me that if respecting women and girls was actually something people cared about then the rapist would be gone. Instead we get this virtue signalling. They’ll put a rapist on the stage and cheer for him but one sexist remark and you’re off. It’s just lies.

    • The Octonaut@mander.xyzEnglish
      42·
      4 months ago

      I don’t know if you get this, but the Netherlands and Australia Britain are different societies. Who do you think is lying?

      • eatthecake@lemmy.worldEnglish
        53·
        4 months ago

        Both, probably. The Netherlands clearly doesn’t care about rape victims and the media are just virtue signalling. The United States elected a misogynist. It’s a problem all over the world and I think a lot of people who claim to care (society in general) are lying.