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TEN to seek apology from Big Bash League cricketer

Updated: “Don’t blush baby.” Three little words trigger a Big Bash League controversy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnLHUr60HK0

TEN will seek an apology from Big Bash League cricketer Chris Gayle after his on-air flirting to sports presenter Mel McLaughlin.

The Melbourne Renegades cricketer told her, “I wanted to have an interview with you as well, that’s why I’m here.

“I get to see your eyes for the first time, it’s nice. Hopefully we can win and go for a drink after.

“Don’t blush baby.”

While the moment divided social media comment, TEN’s head of sport David Barham said Gayle would be stripped of his field microphone and was seeking an apology for inappropriate comments.

“We won’t be using (Gayle) in the game anymore,” he told the Herald Sun.

“Unless things change in the next few days, it’s not happening,” he said.

News Corp reports BBL boss Anthony Everard said there was: “Just no place in the BBL — or, for that matter, cricket anywhere — for that sort of behaviour.”

Update: Chris Gayle has addressed media.

https://twitter.com/ABCNews24/status/684177672038002688

27 Responses

  1. 11.5million Women of Australia are seeking an apology from ch10 for the way they portray women on The Bachelor. If CG wanted to genuinely ask Mel out, maybe he should have done it off camera, in this media mad era…People meet and hook up in many places, the “workplace” should not be off limits, just that you accept the answer

  2. Twitter is alight after Melbourne Renegades star Chris Gayle received a $10,000 fine for asking out a female interviewer live on air.

    People’s anger seems to stem from the fact that Sunrise weather girl Nuala Hafner – described as ‘brave’ by the Daily Mail – received support and adulation when she did the same thing during a live report on December 17 2014. The presenter attempted to flirt with a ‘hunky’ beach goer during a live weather report from Sydney’s Balmoral Beach, only to be shot down when he told her he was engaged.
    Ms Hafner went on to say:

    “Story of my love life, he would rather get wet than come over to me! Is this some kind of mating display because I’m really enjoying it”.

    Both press and the public reacted with a distinctly sympathetic tone to Ms Hafner’s approach.
    On the other hand, Gayle’s club have extended a formal apology to interviewer Mel McLaughlin…

  3. Ten claiming the moral high ground! That’s a laugh considering how Ten are so morally disgraceful in how they embarrass they treat the female contestants on The Bachelor.

  4. Mel is a total professional and handled it well.
    Gayle, like many of his ilk. is a total buffoon and should be fined 50% of his salary which is then donated to an appropriate charity (McGrath Foundation?) and video a public service announcement played at all future BBL matches for two years.

  5. Mel is an experienced sports journo who was just doing her job. She should not have to be made to feel uncomfortable on live tv in her workplace. The thing is she just asked him a question about his innings and he has turned it into something that isnt even relevant. To say don’t blush baby is just wrong and im glad she fired back saying im not.

    This isnt the first time. Chris has form doing this.

  6. Hi David, a great site and Happy Birthday.
    But any reason you have given this ridiculous story prominence, but offered no coverage at all of a real case of nasty sexism yesterday on the Today show?
    Check out this piece that no other media has run with –
    mumbrella.com.au/the-type-of-domestic-violence-you-can-still-joke-about-on-australian-television-337442#comment-1172127
    Is it a case if the flirting is from a male, it is abuse and sexism, but if the ‘fun’ comments about domestic violence are from a woman about a man, is then just a joke and perfectly okay?
    The double standards in our industry from the Outrage Brigade defy logic, as these two stories prove.
    Love your site and your insights, but I really would like your take on this and to know why this other piece has not even rated a mention on the fine TV Tonight?

    1. Pretty simple answer: on Hiatus I didn’t see it, nor do I promise to. Frankly the output during Hiatus has kept me working long hours as it is. Had to play and re-read that story several times to grasp the context.

    2. A very good point TVTALK. The hypocrisy of the morally outraged should be called out whenever it happens. This bullying of Chris Gayle is totally out of proportion with what was merely a bit of playful, mischievous banter. Society is in dire straits when the grey, humourless PC police are allowed to dictate standards of behaviour.

      1. Rather dangerous to judge one incident based on another. If Mel felt it was inappropriate in her workplace it isn’t a matter of saying other similar incidents were laughed off by those involved. It was her workplace, her experience and context is important. Domestic violence argument is another topic altogether.

  7. You could hear in the background the commentators laughing….5 mins later after commercial the same commentators denouncing the whole thing. Not good at all.

    1. Good point. @TenSport also tweeted Gayle’s comments with the hashtag #smooth before deleting the tweet.

      Commentary host Howard’s holier-than-thou attitude is also a bit hypocritical given that his often inappropriate comments to the drivers and visiting celebrities at the Melbourne Grand Prix is one of the reasons that I don’t watch it on Ten any more.

      I guess it’s ok for interviewers to make a berk of themselves in front of sports people but not the other way around?

    2. I noticed this too, and the main commentator started to joke about it, and then clearly got word from a producer in his ear before saying, “on reflection, I think he went too far”.

      Says something about the coverage.

        1. I’m not assuming anything. There was no ‘alcoholic term’ or reference to alcohol in the interview. Shoudy wrote there was.
          And why not a coffee? I drink them late evening.

          1. Whilst no alcoholic term was used generally speaking if someone says go for a drink that usually means alcohol is involved whilst its usually going for coffee if its non alcoholic.

            I’m a bit puzzled at the need to dissect the entire interaction. It wasn’t appropriate. Apologies have been made. Let’s move on.

        2. I believe not James. He might be thinking that he wants McLaughlin to drink some beer. When Mel responded to this type of comment, she felt really annoyed. It’s just like being in a workplace. Everyone has a zero tolerance to bullying and harassment.

          1. Agree with James. The issue is not alcohol nor beer nor any other presumptions. The issue is, as you note in a further comment, about unprofessional behaviour towards a female presenter. Nothing to do with alcohol.

  8. I didn’t watch I’m a celeb last night but I’ve just watched the youtube video above. I immediately scrunched up my nose and thought that’s a bit tacky and not something I would want to watch.

    It was inappropriate. It requires stern works and a warning. He needs to make an apology. I’m just not sure banning him from doing interviews during a game is the way to go. Nearly everyday we see people doing and saying inappropriate things in front of a camera and does everyone get banned? Education is the key.

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