Skating announcer removed from broadcast after calling ex-skater 'The b**** from Canada' on hot mic
A pair of British figure skating broadcasters have been suspended after a hot mic incident saw them describe a decorated Canadian skater turned coach and analyst in vulgar terms on Wednesday.
Simon Reed and Nicky Slater, who were working on the International Skating Union's YouTube feed, appeared to believe their mics were off following the pairs skate at the World Figure Skating Championships in France.
Here's how they discussed three-time Olympic medalist Meagan Duhamel in the ensuing conversation:
Slater: "We'll see if she liked it, if she tweets."
Reed: "I don't worry about her."
Slater: "We didn't mention her by name, we didn't mention her as one of the coaches."
Reed: "The b**** from Canada."
[Both laugh]
Duhamel, who is working the event for the CBC had been among a number of critics who weren't happy with Reed and Slater's commentary. She specifically took issue with their lamenting the lack of Russians at the event, due to their country's invasion of Ukraine, and their inability to identify the number of rotations on a jump, a skill expected of every serious skating commentator.
Others criticized Reed and Slater for their descriptions of female skaters' bodies, misgendering a nonbinary skater and calling a 16-year-old skater "a sight for sore eyes."
The next morning, the ISU tweeted a statement apologizing to Duhamel for its announcers' "inappropriate and unacceptable behavior" and announcing the pair have been suspended, effective immediately.
The full statement:
Following the Pairs Short Program at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022, an open mic picked up a disrespectful comment made by the two commentators working on the international signal.
The ISU is shocked by the language used by the two commentators which does not reflect its views whatsoever. The ISU strongly condemns any statements of a discriminatory or prejudicial nature.
There is no place for harassing and abusive language or remarks and behavior in sport and our society. The ISU took instant action with its service provider to suspend both commentators with immediate effect and neither will cover any future Figure Skating events for the ISU.
An internal investigation will follow shortly. The ISU offered its sincere apologies to Ms. Duhamel for the inappropriate and unacceptable behavior of the two commentators.
Duhamel tweeted she has received personal apologies from both Reed and ISU president Jan Dijkema.
Skating twitter, I hope we all enjoy some amazing skating today. I have received personal apologies from Simon Reed and the ISU president and I don’t think a public apology is necessary at this point. I appreciate and respect their apologies ❤️
— Meagan Duhamel (@mhjd_85) March 24, 2022
