ESPN drop tennis commentator over Venus Williams ‘gorilla’ remark at Australian Open
US broadcaster drops Doug Adler after he compares US star to a ‘gorilla’ at the Australian Open – although he insists the word he used was ‘guerrilla’
US broadcaster ESPN has dropped commentator Doug Adler after he compared Venus Williams to a “gorilla” at the Australian Open – although he insisted the word he used was “guerrilla”.
ESPN said Adler should have been more careful during his coverage of the seven-time grand slam-winner’s win over Stefanie Voegele.
“During an Australian Open stream on ESPN3, Doug Adler should have been more careful in his word selection,” an ESPN statement said.
During the second-round match on Wednesday, Adler, a 59-year-old former player, said: “She (Voegele) misses a first serve and Venus is all over her.
“You see Venus move in and put the gorilla effect on. Charging.”