Cincinnati Reds play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman was suspended by the team on Wednesday night after hot mics picked up the veteran broadcaster using a homophobic slur during the first game of a doubleheader.
While still on the broadcast of the second game, he apologized, was pulled from the contest, and the organization announced the suspension later that night, delivering a statement that read, in part, “We share our sincerest apologies to the LGBTQ+ community in Cincinnati, Kansas City, all across this country, and beyond. The Reds embrace a zero-tolerance policy for bias or discrimination of any kind, and we are truly sorry to anyone who has been offended.”
Reds reliever Amir Garrett responded on Twitter:
To the LGBTQ community just know I am with you, and whoever is against you, is against me. I’m sorry for what was said today.
— CountOnAG (@Amir_Garrett) August 20, 2020
He was joined by fellow reliever Matt Bowman:
LGBTQ+ community, as a member of the Reds organization, I am so sorry for the way you were marginalized tonight. There will always be a place for you in the baseball community and we are so happy to have you here.
— Matt Bowman (@bowmandernchief) August 20, 2020
And here’s the full Reds statement:
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 20, 2020
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