One Major League Baseball broadcaster found himself in proverbial hot water after speaking too quickly and uttering the one off-limit word in the English language during a live taping.
“We had a phenomenal day today. N***** League Mususm and Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue,” Oakland A’s play-by-play man Glen Kuiper uttered while speaking to his partner and the television audience. His A’s were playing the Kansas City Royals, home of the Negro League Museum to which Kuiper was surely referencing.
Take a look at this astounding slip-up below. (Warning: There is no editing of the clip and he pronounces the word quite clearly):
For those asking why Glen Kuiper just made an on-air apology, here's why. pic.twitter.com/k1we7gf3GT
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 6, 2023
Immediately, Kuiper went into apology mode after unmistakably enunciating the wrong word.
“A little bit earlier in the show, I said something, didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to and I just wanted to apologize if it sounded different than I meant it to be said. I just wanted to apologize for that,” Kuiper said in the top of the sixth inning.
The New York Post followed up with more of the story, writing:
Oakland Athletics play-by-play broadcaster Glen Kuiper apologized after appearing to say a racial slur in a slip up on-air during Friday night’s game against the Royals.
During the pregame coverage, Kuiper along with broadcast partner Dallas Braden told the audience what the pair did in Kansas City prior to the game.
That included a visit to the city’s Negro League Museum, which Kuiper appeared to trip over and used a racial-slur instead.
And because they had to, the Oakland A’s organization also addressed the error, saying they were “working to address” Kuiper’s faux pas.
“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,” The Oakland A’s Communications account from on Twitter.
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
Of course, there is a separate debate about the power of language – and the related power that is held over the white community for being unable to speak this word, whether doing so with malicious intent or repeating words in songs. Barstool Sports recently had to fire one of their most popular employees because he mouthed the lyrics to a song.
So, despite perhaps needing to address it, Twitter offered stern admonitions to the A’s that they had better tread lightly when it came to any consequences or follow-ups with Kuiper.
“You guys fire Kuip I’m done forever. A complete slip of the tongue. There’s not a chance in hell he meant that in any sort of way. There’s nothing to address, it was an accident, they happen, move on,” one commenter said.
“100% unintentional. Please, don’t fire a man that’s given his heart & soul to this team for decades. His apology was needed and enough. He doesn’t need to be fired, suspended, disciplined or in need of workplace sensitivity training,” said another.
“Guy has worked for you since 2006. We have got to stop letting one second mistakes destroy peoples lives. Nobody thinks there was any intent in what he said,” wrote another user.
“Nothing more needs to be addressed. As a Black woman, I NEVER thought I’d find myself defending a white man/woman using this reference, yet while UNACCEPTABLE, I can see how this happened to a person given that “Negro” is also a word I would not tolerate being called, but acceptably used in VERY FEW particular instances: Negro Leagues being one,” explained another.
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded Twitter video.
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