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Original poster

to be grateful to John Inverdale......

133 replies

curlew · 06/07/2013 23:58

... For singlehandedly making feminism's point.

OP posts:
NewLifeDownSouth · 07/07/2013 22:31

What does his wiki page say Suffolk?

SuffolkNWhat · 07/07/2013 22:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SarahAndFuck · 07/07/2013 22:42

It says this:

In the 2013 Ladies Wimbledon Tennis Final, while winnner Marion Bartoli was hugging her father, he asked BBC radio listeners: "Do you think Bartoli?s dad told her when she was little 'You?re never going to be a looker? You?ll never be a Sharapova, so you have to be scrappy and fight.'" [2] The sexism and rudeness of these comments led to a severe outpouring of dismay on various social networks. The BBC apologised on his behalf,[2] and Inverdale himself apologised on air the following day for his "ham-fisted comments".[3] Earlier in 2009 listeners complained of his ?sexist and patronising view? of women?s tennis during the Wimbledon championships.

bemybebe · 07/07/2013 22:43

Complained. \No doubt plenty of spelling mistakes because I am shattered and need my sleep.

SarahAndFuck · 07/07/2013 22:47

Do you think his father ever said to him when he was little "John, you're never going to be a looker, you'll always look like someone melted orange wax over a bag of rusty nails, so you'll have to stick to radio."

Wuldric · 07/07/2013 22:59

i am just imagining today's commentary from John Inverdale

"I just wonder if his Mum, because she has obviously been the most influential person in his life, did say to him when he was 12, 13, 14 maybe, 'listen, you are never going to be a looker.'"

Did that commentary ever happen? I guess not

John Inverdale, you are a sexist twat of the first order. Your pathetic apology, designed to minimise your offence by attempting to mislead people that you were talking about Bartoli's physique (as if that were even relevant) as opposed to her looks is utterly seen through. You are a sad sad man.

I do not want to employ you any more. If you were employed in my firm, I would ensure you were dismissed for gross misconduct. Only problem is, I am a humble licence payer, not your employer. So I have to watch while my fucking licence money is squandered on promoting sexism.

John Inverdale, you are a disgrace.

But worse still is the BBC. Taking my money to promote sexism. Way to go.

SisterMonicaJoan · 07/07/2013 23:07

I've complained online.

Can't believe the BBC are defending him.

JackNoneReacher · 07/07/2013 23:18

Irrelevant, wrong, sexist... I despair that our licence fee is paying his wages.

mathanxiety · 08/07/2013 01:44

So did anyone make any remarks about Andy Murray's receding hairline/ IT guy looks?

pianodoodle · 08/07/2013 08:10

I notice it was just one of those half arsed non-apologies as well.

"sorry IF I've caused offence" and "hope we can leave the matter there"

Not good enough at all.

Wuldric · 08/07/2013 08:15

But his apology was so dishonest and so disingenuous, that it is breathtaking.

He says this:

"The point I was trying to make, in a rather ham-fisted kind of way, was that in a world where the public perception of tennis players is that they're all 6ft tall Amazonian athletes, Marion - who is the Wimbledon champion - bucks that trend."

Which is not true. He was commenting about Bartoli's looks, then moved on to comment on her physique. He is not addressing the issue that he found it okay to comment on her looks. He is trying to brush that part of his commentary (which is the offensive part) under the table by pretending it never happened.

MostlyCake · 09/07/2013 12:40

I complained to the BBC - link and details here:

www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/

On BBC Radio 5 Live he remarked: "Do you think Bartoli's dad told her when she was little: 'You're never going to be a looker, you'll never be a Sharapova, so you have to be scrappy and fight'? Why do her looks matter one jot??? So angry!!

Details for any complaints people might like to make! BBC Radio 5 Live, broadcast Sunday 7th July.

manicinsomniac · 09/07/2013 13:14

It's shocking and maybe he should be sacked. How hurtful and soul destroying tohave what should be the best weekend of your life overshadowed by public comments about your appearance. I don't think I'd ever get over that and she's a very strong woman. But - I don't think it's sexist exactly.

It's more a false idea we have that our celebrities should have it all - they should be attractive and personable, even if those aren't the qualities that have got them famous in the first place and are nothing to do with their skill/talent/job.

Some comments I have seen about Andy Murray recently:
"seriously, why are there no fb updates that aren't about the ugly Scottish munter ... oh wait, I just made another one"

"Oh great. We have a new British champion - a fugly misery"

"Shame Murray doesn't have legs like Dkocovik"

More general attitudes about male sports stars seem to base themselves around how 'fit' or 'fuckable' they are, rather than how skilled they are.

And it's exactly the same with women sports stars. It's disgraceful but it's pretty equal.

manicinsomniac · 09/07/2013 13:15

and I think I saw an mn post that was doing similar to Sabine Lisiki, in a reverse sort of way - the title called her Sabine Lipsticki - I think. Only saw it in passing. But that's pretty awful too.

PeppermintPasty · 09/07/2013 13:30

Thanks for the link MostlyCake, have complained online.

tabulahrasa · 09/07/2013 13:31

Can I just check...(not a tennis fan) this is the woman being talked about?

Because leaving aside the whole ludicrousness of judging female athletes on their looks and acknowledging that I'm now doing it...what's wrong with how she looks? I think she's fairly pretty?

ThatRuddyAbyssinian · 09/07/2013 13:36

Sorry Manic, you're talking bollocks. What he said is EXACTLY sexist. Not false ideas, just plain old sexism.

Comments made by random individuals about Andy Murray are irrelevant - at NO point would a commentator have said in the middle of the men's final "Cor, Andy Murray's Mum must have pushed him into tennis as he's an ugly sod compared to Nadal/Federer/insert good-looking tennis player of choice'. Sorry but it wouldn't happen. So why should this be an acceptable thing to say to a female player.

NewLifeDownSouth · 12/07/2013 15:53

I got my response from the BBC, which says:

John has apologised for this remark and acknowledges that it was ?clumsy?.

I am thinking maybe I should complain again because I don't think it is clumsy, I think it is offensive even more so considering the occasion and the context.

What responses have you guys had? Are you complaining again?

mayihaveaboxofchoculaits · 12/07/2013 16:10

I got my response today from the BBC. I think everyone gets the same corporate twoddle.
If they say they have investigated and he has apologised, then that should be enough, seems to be their message. I realise that working in the complaints dept isn't fun, but really I think we are asking for more than a sop.

They wrote

Thank you very much for getting in touch with us about our Wimbledon 2013 coverage, specifically BBC Radio 5 Live?s broadcast leading up to the Women?s final on Saturday.

We were naturally very sorry to learn of listener unhappiness over John Inverdale?s comments about French player Marion Bartoli?s appearance, so we immediately reviewed the programme segment and raised the concerns with the senior management team responsible within BBC Radio 5 Live.

John Inverdale is one of our most experienced presenters, however we do accept that in the run-up to Saturday?s Wimbledon Ladies? Final John made an insensitive comment regarding Marion Bartoli.

John has apologised for this remark and acknowledges that it was ?clumsy?.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live subsequently, John went on to explain that, ?The point I was trying to make, in a rather ham-fisted kind of way, was that in a world where the public perception of tennis players is that they are all six feet Amazonian athletes, Marion, who is the Wimbledon Champion, bucks that trend and she is a fantastic example to all young people that it?s attitude and will and determination, together obviously with talent, that does in the end get you to the top?.

John has also written a personal apology to Marion Bartoli to express his regret if any offence was caused.

Thank you again for getting in touch and allowing us to investigate, respond and apologise for any offence caused by the comments.

Kind Regards

I was calling for him to be moved from womens coverage altogether.
Nothing changes.

HenWithAttitude · 12/07/2013 16:15

Ditto

FannyMcNally · 12/07/2013 17:29

Ditto. Clumsy my arse.

NewLifeDownSouth · 12/07/2013 18:11

I think I might complain again. Just to annoy them if nothing else.

needasilverlining · 13/07/2013 09:12

I got the same crappy non-reply. Completely ignored my point that generally, this year's Wimbledon coverage was dire and spent more time on "whimsical" crappery than it ever did actually showing or talking about the tennis. Why is BBC's tennis coverage geared to people who don't really like tennis?

And my point about Inverdale not only being a sexist twat, but having fallen into the trap of believing people tune in to watch him, rather than, say, the actual sport.

scarlettanager · 13/07/2013 09:27

Yes same response here. Who gives a shit that he is one of their most "experienced presenters". Clumsy and insensitive- no - outrageous. I'm complaining again. Patronising apology.

leakylills · 19/07/2013 10:10

Ron Atkinson made a racist remark on ITV in 2003 (I think), we never saw him again - rightly so. You can bet your life that that knobbly faced, sexist c**t Inverdale will not suffer the same fate.