Reds suspend announcer Thom Brennaman for using homophobic slur during broadcast

Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman used a homophobic slur during the first game of a Reds-Royals doubleheader on Fox Sports Ohio Wednesday night.

He apologized on-air more than two hours after the incident and removed himself from the broadcast.

Late Wednesday night, the Reds announced that Brennaman had been suspended.

“The Cincinnati Reds organization is devastated by the horrific, homophobic remark made this evening by broadcaster Thom Brennaman. He was pulled off the air, and effective immediately was suspended from doing Reds broadcasts,” the Reds wrote in a statement. “We will be addressing our broadcasting team in the coming days. In no way does this incident represent our players, coaches, organization, or our fans. We share our sincerest apologies to the LGBTQ+ community in Cincinnati, Kansas City, all across this country, and beyond. The Reds embrace a zero-tolerance policy for bias or discrimination of any kind, and we are truly sorry to anyone who has been offended.”

Fox Sports Ohio also released a statementWednesday night: “The language that Thom Brennaman used this evening is hateful, offensive, and in no way reflects the values of FOX Sports Ohio. We agree with the Reds decision to suspend him until further notice.”

Fox Sports said on Thursday that Brennaman will not be calling NFL games this year.

Fox Sports issued a statement Thursday that said “we are moving forward with our NFL schedule which will not include him.” Fox also said Brennaman’s remarks were “abhorrent, unacceptable, and not representative of the values of Fox Sports.”

Brennaman had been a part of Fox’s NFL announcer lineup since they started televising the league in 1994. He was part of the No. 3 announcer team last season and was paired with analyst Chris Spielman and reporter Shannon Spake. He had also called Major League Baseball games for the network form 1996 to 2014.

Fox Sports and Fox Sports Ohio are not owned by the same company. Fox Sports Ohio is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting.

A video circulating Wednesday night on social media caught the hot mic clip of Brennaman using the homophobic slur.

In a video posted to Twitterby ESPN writer Jeff Passan, Brennaman can be heard in what sounds to be the tail end of a sentence: “the (homophobic slur) capitals of the world.”

Seconds later, Brennaman continues with “Reds live, the pregame show.”

He did not appear to realize his mic had picked up the homophobic slur and continued broadcasting for the second game.

Later Wednesday evening, Brennaman apologized while live on the air. He then left the rest of the broadcast to Jim Day.

“Jim Day’s gonna be taking us the rest of the way through this game ... I made a comment earlier tonight that I guess went out over the air that I am deeply ashamed of,” Brennaman said. “If I have hurt anyone out there, I can’t tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart I’m so very, very sorry. I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith — as there’s a drive into deep left field by (Nicholas) Castellanos that will be a home run. And so that will make it a 4-0 ballgame.

“I don’t know if I’m gonna be putting on this headset again. I don’t know if it’s gonna be for the Reds. I don’t know if it’s gonna be for my bosses at Fox. I want to apologize for the people who sign my paycheck — for the Reds, for Fox Sports Ohio, for the people I work with, for anybody that I’ve offended here tonight.

“I can’t begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am. That is not who I am. It never has been. And I’d like to think maybe I could have some people ... that could back that up. I am very, very sorry, and I beg for your forgiveness. Jim Day will take you the rest of the way home.”

Cincinnati Councilman Chris Seelbach made the following statement on Twitter about the video Wednesday night: “The Brennaman family are Cincinnati sports icons with a powerful voice in our community, which makes it even more disgusting and totally unprofessional to hear such language used. The Reds have been proud supporters of their LGBTQ+ fans, and this language cannot be tolerated. Period. Cincinnati is leading the way for LGBTQ+ equality. We are on the right side of history and it’s incredibly disappointing to hear Mr. Brennaman use such language of hate when our country is begging for unity.”

Seelbach is Cincinnati’s first openly gay councilman.

Contributing: Associated Press

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