Kansas City, Missouri Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman has stopped playing Cincinnati’s games after using an anti-gay slur on the air Wednesday night, prompting the team to apologize for the “horrific, homophobic remark.”
Brennaman used the slur moments after the Fox Sports Ohio feed recovered from a commercial break before reaching the top of the seventh inning in the first game of a doubleheader at Kansas City. Brennaman did not seem to realize he was already on the air. He pursued him later.
Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com reports that videos of his comment spread rapidly across social media.
The Reds took the 56-year-old Brennaman out of the broadcast in the fifth inning of the second game.
“The Cincinnati Reds organization has been devastated by the horrific, homophobic remark made this evening by broadcaster Thom Brennaman,” the team said in a statement. “He was taken off the air and was immediately effectively suspended from sending Reds. We will address our broadcast team in the coming days.”
John Minchillo / AP
“In no way does this incident represent our players, coaches, organization, or our fans. We share our sincere apologies to the LGBTQ + community in Cincinnati, Kansas City, throughout this country and beyond. The Reds embrace a zero- tolerance policies for bias or discrimination of any kind, and we truly regret anyone who is offended, “it said.
There was no word on the length of the suspension.
Brennaman opened the fifth inning with an apology spoken directly against camera before handing over play-by-play duties.
“I made a remark earlier last night that I think I went out of the air that I am deeply ashamed,” he said. “If I hurt anyone there, I can not tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart. I am very, very sorry.”
After pausing to announce a home run by Nick Castellanos of Cincinnati, Brennaman added, “I do not know if I will reapply this headset,” and apologized to the Reds, Fox Sports and his colleagues.
“I can not begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am,” Brennaman said. “That’s not who I am and have never been. I like to think I may have some people who can bake that. I’m very, very sorry and I beg your forgiveness.”
Broadcast partner Chris Welsh told Brennaman “You’re a good man, partner. Hold on.”
Alternate play-by-play man Jim Day took over the broadcast.
Reds reliever Amir Garrett tweets about Brennaman’s words shortly after the end of the second game:
“To the LGBTQ community just know that I am with you, and whoever is against you is against me,” he wrote. “I’m sorry for what was said today.”
“LGBTQ + community, as a member of the Reds organization, I’m sorry for the way you were marginalized last night,” injured Reds reliever Matt Bowman said on Twitter. “There will always be a place for you in the baseball community and we are so glad you are here.”
Brennaman and the Reds announcers worked from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, even though the doubleheader was against the Royals in Kansas City. Remote broadcasts have become the norm in baseball this year due to coronavirus protocols.
The son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, Thom has played 33 league games for 33 years and has spent the past 27 at Fox Sports, dealing primarily with baseball and football.
CByderports.com’s Snyder notes that the Reds had announced earlier in the day that the senior Brennaman would be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame next year.
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