Pressure Mounts On BBC To Take Action For Commentator’s Gaffe On Bartoli’s Appearance

The BBC is facing increased pressure to take action against one of their most popular hosts, after insensitive comments made on the physical appearance of Wimbledon women’s champ Marion Bartoli.

Radio host John Inverdale made the gaffe during the women’s final on Saturday when he wondered on air whether Bartoli’s father ever told her when she was younger that she was never going to be a “looker” a la Maria Sharpova, so she would have to fight harder for success.

This made listeners furious and had the BBC quickly apologizing for the remarks after listeners went on a rant on Twitter. BBC, which is publicly funded, admitted that the comments were “insensitive”.

Inverdale said on Sunday he had written to apologize to Bartoli and told listeners ahead of Sunday’s men’s final that he used “a clumsy phrase” about Bartoli in trying to make a point that not all players need to be “6 ft fall Amazonian athletes”.

Inverdale’s apology did little to calm the angry listeners who demanded that the BBC take action against the 55-year-old who has been presenting programs since the 1980s.

“This is appalling. Tennis is one of the worst offenders in sport in terms of the focus on women athletes’ looks and the BBC needs to take action,” Sue Tibbals, chief executive of the Women’s Sports and Fitness Foundation, told Reuters.

“I thought Bartoli was an absolute inspiration, so spirited and gutsy, and she does not deserve these outrageous remarks. This is not a one-off event from this presenter.”

A BBC spokesperson said that the network and Inverdale have apologized and there were no plans for further action on the matter.

Batoli didn’t seem to be too bothered by the remarks when asked by reporters,

“It doesn’t matter, honestly. I am not blonde, yes. That is a fact,” Bartoli said in a press briefing late on Saturday.

“Have I dreamt about having a model contract? No. I’m sorry. But have I dreamed about winning Wimbledon? Absolutely, yes.” she added.

This incident comes after the BBC was involved in one of the biggest scandals in it’s long history after a sex scandal involving the late TV presenter Jimmy Savile threw the broadcaster into turmoil and raised questions about the organization’s ethics, leading to the appointment of a new head, Tony Hall.

Do you think the remarks by the BBC commentator are insensitive? How would you characterize them?