A's denounce broadcaster Glen Kuiper's 'unacceptable' racial slur during pregame show
The Oakland Athletics publicly denounced longtime broadcaster Glen Kuiper after he appeared to accidentally use a racial slur during a pregame show in Kansas City.
In the segment, Kuiper appeared alongside former A's pitcher Dallas Braden and told the audience they visited the city's Negro League Museum earlier in the day. However, he seemed to trip over the word "Negro," and the result came out as a racial slur.
Kuiper's words:
"We had a phenomenal day today: N***** League Museum and Arthur Bryant's Barbecue."
You can see the clip itself here, with the warning of NSFW language.
Kuiper apologized on air during the sixth inning between the A's and Kansas City Royals, calling his language a verbal flub.
I’m not sure what was said, but #Athletics TV Broadcaster Glen Kuiper opened the 6th-inning with an on-air apology. pic.twitter.com/AZQVL3kuJG
— Joe Hughes (@VegasJoeHughes) May 6, 2023
Kuiper's apology:
"A little bit earlier in the show, I said something, didn't come out quite the way I wanted it to. I just wanted to apologize if it sounded different than I meant it to be said. As I said, I just wanted to apologize for that."
The slur had gone almost entirely unnoticed until that apology, after which some social media users went back and found the clip to share.
Soon after the game, a 12-8 Oakland win, the A's issued a statement via Twitter condemning Kuiper's language and saying they would address the situation.
The language used by Glen Kuiper during today’s pregame broadcast is unacceptable. The Oakland Athletics do not condone such language. We are working to address the situation.
— Oakland A's Communications (@AthleticsPR) May 6, 2023
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick released a statement Saturday explaining that he welcomed Kuiper to the museum Friday and that Kuiper was excited to be there.
Kendrick said the word uttered by Kuiper has "no place in our society." Kendrick added that doesn't know Kuiper's heart but preaches forgiveness.
My Official Statement on the Glen Kuiper incident is below. pic.twitter.com/txAmPH9ulI
— Bob Kendrick (@nlbmprez) May 6, 2023
The situation quickly received comparisons to the infamous Thom Brennaman incident of 2020, which also occurred in Kansas City. In that case, the then-Cincinnati Reds broadcaster was caught using a homophobic slur on air and was quickly suspended by his team — but not before he issued a hasty apology on the air.
The situations differ, however, in that Brennaman was caught on a hot mic, while Kuiper knew he was on air. Kuiper's language also seemed unintentional, while Brennaman admitted to knowing what he was saying.
Kuiper, a former minor-league baseball player and brother of San Francisco Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper, has been Oakland's play-by-play announcer since 2006.
