NBC Apologizes for Mitcham Snub
NBC has responded to complaints and claims that its Olympics coverage was tinged with some homophobia.
The net's Olympics President, Gary Zenkel, issued an apology for the NBC reporting team's failure to mention on air that gold-medal diver Matthew Mitcham is gay and has a partner, who was there rooting him on. That's in stark contrast to the Peacock nets coverage of straight athletes an their partner.
Says the NBC rep:
“We regret that we missed the opportunity to tell Matthew Mitcham’s story. We apologize for this unintentional omission.”
Sorry is not good enough!
NBC should also make a promise to be more inclusive when the next Olympic games - the Winter games - roll around.
That would be a positive step!
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lol. his peepee is slanted in his speedo! :O
gays are nothing a big bunch of pansie-ass whiners! I hope they all die!
nice body! =D
Re: Nathaniel – yours is probably small enough to go up and down in that small of a speedo, shit-for-brains!
Re: PunkyBrewstein – wtf, stfu i hope perez socially hurts you.
Re: wherisyurheartx – not picky I see
Re: wherisyurheartx – yeah, that will happen!
whoo.
Uh, I think the only one "outraged" is you, Perez.
I couldn't care less if he's gay or if his boyfriend was there. Big fucking deal!!
NBC doesn't owe anyone an apology. There are MANY athletes in the Olympics that never got any airtime at all. Are they supposed to apologize for that, too?
i dont care about the news here
i just wanted to say that hes super hot
whoever is with him is a lucky bastard
?Sorry is not good enough!
NBC should also make a promise to be more inclusive when the next Olympic games - the Winter games - roll around.
That would be a positive step!"
What the hell are you talking about, Perez? A positive step towards what? He's gay, so what? What does that have to do with the Olympics? Maybe NBC can identify each athlete's religious and political beliefs and do blood tests on them to properly identify his or her's exact ethnic make-up. Afterall, those are just as relevant to an athlete's performance as his/her sexuality. Man, sometimes the gay rights lobby needs to learn to when to pick its battles. What a waste of time and shame on NBC to kowtowing to a bunch of PC nonsense.
why isn't sorry good enough? while i was watching the olympics, they did speak of athlete's significant others….however, they only spoke of team USA's significant others. i don't remember much attention being paid to the significant others of any other team besides the USA…and this diver is Australian. You are just looking for something to be bothered about and negative about, as per usual.
i love Perez!
Sure took them long enough!!!!!
Better yet….how about if NBC doesn't even mention the spouse/fiancee/partner? I don't know about everyone else, but…I couldn't care less if they are married or attached.
Just give me the info on how they train, and what it took for the athlete to get to the Olympics.
first…i hate this guy
sorry is not good enough? wtf get over it
Boy are you an ASSHOLE.
.
NBC isn't under any OBLIGATION to cover every fucking facet of every participant's life. They apologized. But as usual with you QUEENS, that's not enough. This is why people can't stand your behavior. Instead of being gracious you become snippy and bitchy. If you EVER expect to be treated with dignity and respect = then EARN IT and don't be such a fucking COW and pissy witch when you don't get your way. You are an utter embarassment to gays everywhere.
It wasn't even a snub of his partner, none of his family was shown at all! Glad to see they atleast appologized, but we'll see if they actually get better about acceptance.
if everybody is "equal" why make a huge deal about things? seriously. everyone needs to get over it. no one makes a deal about me being a white sometimes hetero female so why do we need to make a deal about black, asian, eskimo, homo's, bisexual's….? get over it!
NBC did NOT have to apologize!
1) not American
2) doesn't need to include bedmates!!
i don't think it was necessary for NBC to talk about any of the athlete's personal lives…we can all see the lengths that the paparazzi will go to in order to find out anyways. Example A: Michael Phelps.
I'd rather NBC show more events anyways. If I wanted to hear a 15 minute video about some swimmers love triangle, or a beautiful gay diver's past, or something…i'd go to perezhilton.com, right!!?? hahaha. the olympics are about sports, not love lives.
NBC doesn't owe anyone an apology - they did nothing wrong.
I don't hear any straight people complaining because their bf/gf didn't get mentioned, and unless I was watching the wrong Olympics they mentioned NO significant others besides those of Misty/Kerri - because they just got married.
Don't be so sensitive.
Huh? They're apologizing for not airing his personal life to the entire world? You've gotta choose your battles man.
Why should he be special? They didn't give a back story on every athlete there. There are a lot of gay athletes, they didn't talk about their partners. Nor did they talk about the partners of every straight athlete. Why does any of this matter?
ONE question… if he was straight - would anyone be bitching or apologizing? I get tired of the expectation of the special treatment, but then the complaints ABOUT said special treatment… cause now people are drawing attention… honestly, at the end of the day - just live your life. No one owes an apology in this case.
Ha! Unintentional, my ass
Thousands of athletes participated in the Olympics, most of whom were not reported about, should NBC apologize for not including them too?
This isnt the first time NBC so done some gay hating….cunts!!
I just wrote NBC and said They did NOT need to apologize!
I agree with many that you are getting outraged over nothing. He is Austrailian and I don't remember any of the athletes personal lives being talked about except for the US. Also why should the commentators say he is gay? Should they say everyone's sexual orientation. The Olympics are about sports and nothing else and now because of people like you this man is known solely for being gay and not for being a good athlete!!!!! That is why it shouldn't be included.
Just get over it…you want to be treated equally and normally. Well NORMAL people don't complain over something as stupid as this. Get over it…anytime you point something out like this, it emphasizes that gays arent "normal" which is the complete opposite of what your goal is right? Why should he get special treatment because he is homosexual? Why should all you gays have "gay organizations" but the minute a "straight organization" came to light you would scream discrimation. Stop asking for special treatment! If you wanted to be treated equally, stop complaining and act like the people you wish to be equal to.
this isn't that big of a deal. any athlete is lucky to get mentioned.
The fact that he is gay or straight has nothing to do with the Olympics, his ability to perform in them, and his sexual preference is NOBODY'S BUSINESS but his own. By not mentioning his choice I think it means we are actually one step closer to equality. Mentioning it would only have meant that they were pointing out an obvious difference between a hetero athlete and a gay athlete, which would have caused a bigger deal. Frankly Perez, you'd be whining if NBC DID mention the he is gay - this would have been more homophobic that what they chose to do.
Why does it matter? You don't hear other sports celebrities "stories" start off with "and he/she is an average heterosexual with a significant other rooting him/her on". Give me a break!
This is a non-issue; I can't believe they apologized for NOT doing something.
WHY is it necessary to do a story on the fact that he is gay? Just because he is gay, doesn't mean it has to be a big deal. They shouldn't even have to apologize for…not doing a story that he is gay and proud????? Are they going to do stories on every other olympian who is straight and in a relationship? NO. I don't care about Michael Phelps' private life, and I sure as hell don't care about Matthew Mitcham's private life. I am all for the gay lifestyle but…get over it.
The fucker ain't even American, who gives a shit about him or his "partner". Did they talk about Fintchum?
Whatever, your day is coming cry about that gaybies
Get a life Perez.
NBC sooo horrible at covering EVERYTHING. I'm so glad I have the BBC who know how report. Mitchum, Bolt and Phelps were my favorite athletes this past olympics! Congrats everyone!
I really don't understand what this person's sexual orientation has to do with the Olympics. Quit being an overly sensitive pain in the ass! It is not homophobic to not announce that this swimmer is gay and why is it so important to announce that he is?
Take THAT all you right-winged and conservative Christians
who posted all your negative CRAP on this subject a few days ago.
Since when is covering someones life (if they are gay) an abomination, or 'shoving it down someone's throat'? Get over it, this
is 2008. It's not like they were going to show him having sex with his bf for crying out loud.
Re: PunkyBrewstein – Real mature, asshole. I hope no one close to you is gay. I feel sorry for them if they are.
Re: sh0t0kan – What day would that be, stupid ass?
The day we can legally marry and finally put this stupid debate about marriage
being a 'sacred institution between and man and a woman' to rest?
What a bunch of morons you ignorant people are.
Perez, what more do you want from them??? They acknowledged they made a mistake. Stop being such a whiner…it make you look feo (UGLY)
Re: Moluver – go away you little poof! AIDS should become more rampant within your community!
They didn't HAVE to do a profile on him. It's no special interest story that he's gay, there was no huge hardship with that, he's had parental support. Did he come from poverty, have child with cancer? THOSE are the types of stories they like to tell, how someone faced adversity and overcame that to be ab olympian. Gay does not equal exciting or interesting. Besides he was Australian not American. Yes they did profile some other countries' athletes besides the u.S and China, but not that many.
Re: milanesa – that spic knows what it means - you need not translate for him
I wish you'd all go back to Homo-town, or wherever it is you come from.
It's such a laugher when you talk about politics or national issues, Perez.
CBS usually has the winter Olympics, so you'll have to wait another four years.
Re: PunkyBrewstein – Um, I'm a big poof, asshole.
And I'm not going anywhere you ignorant FUCK.
get over it, perez. you're the only one who cares about this.
NBC didn't do features on any non-US athletes, why the hell should they care about a no-name swimmer AT ALL? just because he's gay doesn't mean he's relevant.
i can't believe your pointless and irrelevant protest actually got a response from NBC.
Oh my gosh, get over it Perez. "Sorry is not good enough!"? NBC was airing the Olympics, not the Gay Pride Parade.
Re: PunkyBrewstein – Um, I'm a big poof, asshole. And I'm not going anywhere, you ignorant FUCK.
Re: PunkyBrewstein – Oh and 'Punky'? BRAINS should become more rampant in YOUR community, asswipe.
NBC would rather apologies to the gay community then have to deal with the possible anti gay backlash. and all you fuckers who are spewing hate. just wait till your god strikes you down where you stand.
Perez, not everyone shares your out view of homosexuality ( I for one do though) this is a free country in which we all are entitled to our own opinions and beliefs. The most practiced faiths in the world, Christian and Muslim, teach homosexuality is wrong. Until the Lord returns and says different, you've got your work cut out for you.
Perez, stop trying to create drama where none exists. They barely had breath for anyone other than Michael Phelps (deservedly), so it's no surprise they didn't point out every person in the audience related to the swimmers. Plus, he's not even American. Why would an American network go out of its way to point out something like that when they didn't for all of the other foreign swimmers?
Just because you're gay doesn't mean that people have to make a big deal about it.
I'm writing a letter to NBC.
It's not a huge issue, but if you're gay these small things
start to add up to one big annoying thing.. I'm not about anything
other that EQUAL rights.. Just be EQUAL to EVERYONE, gay, lez,
straight or otherwise.. We're all people doing it up in this world..
I don't believe for one second it was "UNINTENTIONAL." NBC is too wimpy to take the attack it would get for telling Mitcham's story and is scared of frightening homophobic advertisers away. Fuck NBC!
KID'S "JUST SAY NO TO BUTT DART'S"
Good! Now he can feel proud. i am so glad they made this decision!
my guess is if nbc did mention he was gay and has a bf, the community would still be up in arms saying why are the highlighting him being gay like it was weird or something…
sometimes you can't win
first- he's australian, nbc didn't even have to do a piece on him. second- we're talking about his diving, not his personal life so WHO CARES. third- people like jason lezak should have gotten more airtime but he's not whining about it. these are the olympics not some reality dating show, what should it matter if ANY of the athletes are in relationships. get over it.
oh boy..
so at least all of you are free to say "FUUUUCKKK" aren't you?
personally he does his work, there's no need to speak about his private life. hes gay, so what. bet a lot athletes who won gold are. personally i would be embaressed if i won gold but the whole world is talking about my sexual orientation - that has nothing to do with religion or whatever, that is pure good sense.
and in fact in my opinion most gay are gay because they like the idea of being different and that's why it's sooo very important for them to let the world know they're gay. i can't take those "gays" seriously, sorry. i'm not strolling around saying "yeaaaaahhhh i'd like to fuck his tight ass!!" that's like (normal) guys talking about tits; the harder they do it, the more obvious they're virgin
Re: SexyKMama – Naw, I disagree. If they mention significant others for the other swimmers, then his should be mentioned too. If not, that's cool too, but lets be equal to everybody!
Re: fantomas – No one is gay for 'attention' or to be 'different'.. Believe-you-me most of the time that different attention is not good attention - it's hateful or mean or just plain dumb.. If NBC or any other network mentions the significant other of any of the swimmers then his should be too.. If they don't.. then his shouldn't be made different. Equal right baby - nothin more, nothin less!
The Tibetan Monks are being physically persecuted by China, and Americans are busying themselves by bitching that NBC did not report that Matthew Mitcham is gay. You are some kind of messed up. You seem to think that the world hates you because you have freedoms - well, think again. The world hates you because of your arrogant, selfish, self-serving, corrupt culture, and this is another example of that.
:l
At least you have a chance to change, if you can get passed your racism enough to recognize that Obama is your only chance. McCain is in bed with McBush. A vote for McCain, is a vote for more of the same. Don't be stupid.
:l
NOBODY CARES IF HE'S GAY.
I REALLY DOUBT PEOPLE SAT THERE AND GOT MAD BECAUSE NOBODY ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS GAY OR WHO HIS BOYFRIEND IS. DO YOU REALLY THINK IF THEY DID PEOPLE WOULD'VE CARED? I DON'T.
HE'S GAY, COOL. IF HE WASN'T GAY THAT'D BE COOL TOO.
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SQUEEZE WATER OUT OF A ROCK, STARTING DRAMA FOR NO REASON.
Re: gooooome – agree with you.
Sorry, in this case, I think the network was right not to mention his partner. They shouldn't be talking about the athletes person lives, period. It has nothing to do with their athletic performance. It is time for all of us, gay and straight, to start acting like human beings. I am a human I am not just straight. You, Perez, are a walking, talking, breathing stereotype.
OH whatever. Grow a pair you sissies.
Or should i say grow some balls. Fucking sissies/
Oh, whatever. A sorry is good enough.
Anyone ever think it could be also to protect this guy? I mean he is in a different country and we don't know who is going to react badly to things. Gay or not who cares. They made a choice not to mention it. It was more then likely a smart move being that they were in China.
what does being gay have to do with the Olympics? if you're so offended by this enormous oversight, don't watch them. PLEASE FIND SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. Seriously, this is SOOOOO pathetic, I almost want to laugh. But I won't because it's not funny when people are this idiotic.
get the fuck over it. if they had mentioned he was gay, you people would be pitching a fit calling them homophobes because they 'singled out' his sexuality, whining that they don't announce other athletes as straight. are you ever satisfied?
ah - he's from Australia so why should NBC even mention his faglious self or his angry bear top anyway?
How many participants will there be at the winter olympics and how, exactly, are NBC supposed to do a fluff piece on each of their partners and still have time for the sport aspect? Or are you not worried about the sport bit, just trivializing homophobia with pathetic little fights like this that are only real in the heads of muppets like you?
MAYBE…they thought he would be mad about it?
Your damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Isn't it more positive that he is gay, and no one cares that he is gay because we all accept it as normal by now? So what? It should be a big deal because of what he accomplished, not because his sexual preference!
It would be nice if NBC would make good on that promise. However, NBC-Universal has become just another profit-making branch of the GENERAL ELECTRIC multi-national corporate conglomerate. They will only care about equal coverage for gay athletes when some focus group tells them it brings in more ad revenue. Which is this homophobic country will never happen. Ergo, this "promise" is just a bunch of crap and Perez should not be naive enough to think it means a damn thing.
He is an amazing athlete — i didnt watch all of the olympics — but on a few occasions i came accross segments where they would show the family of the winning atheltes in the audience "wife and children" — on Matthew's glorious win i saw no footage of his boyfriend and family…. sad …. the apology is needed and will be apreciated….. For NBC to announce that they are apologising directly to Matthew clearly shows that they know they are in the wrong.. end of story..
XOXOX
Alex
its a little ridiculous to expect nbc to mention that he's gay. i never heard the announcer say, "and here is misty may treanor who is straight."
there is a term for this and its called internalized victimization… which means you feel like everyone is snubbing gay people because you're gay even in instances when it is not happening. he isnt a USA athlete so of course they didn't show his significant other. I didn't see any of the Chinese athletes' significant others even though they won the majority of the gold medals.
LOL… what the hell? Why should hey bother to mention on air anything about his love life??? They talked about people's olympic accomplishments, and in this olympics all they were concerned about with swimming was PHELPS! seriously, the gays need to stop being so over-dramatic. let the guy have his own personal private life.
Perez, you whine too much! Nobody cares if he is gay or straight, just as long as he can represent his country and can make a good dive. I'm really tired of you always making things into a "homophobic issue".
Re: nothanku –
THANK GOD SOMEONE HAS COMMON SENSE!!!
Re: Moluver – Wow, you are a very angry person.
I'm willing to bet that if they said he was a queer then NBC would be defending a lawsuit for outing the little bottom.
It would be just fine to show his partner, there is no need to mention that he's gay - it's not like they pan the camera and say "This is So-N-So's heterosexual wife Sally"!
Well, we have now the First Back Nominee for President…Hey Perez find a gay so we can also nominate him in 4 years. He for sure will run in the Democrat Party, will like to paint the White House pink and will battle every single soldier from behind…WE NEED CHANGE…..
Why do you think the story of a gay swimmer and his boyfriend would be of any interested to anyone, other than a few like minded people? Why does NBC have to apologize for this? Big fricking deal.
You are such a waste of your fathers sperm
Everybody knows that homosexuality is spread by talking about it, so NBC had the responsibility to keep it a secret.
O Perez, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!! I DON'T CARE IF HE'S GAY. Wippie.
his sexual orientation doesn't have anything to do with his performance
If they would stop talking about that goosemonkey michael phelps for 2 seconds maybe they could talk about someone else
If he was Hispanic or Black there would have been a boycott!
You think racism dont exist they murder gaymen in some other countries for sodomy laws In Asia and the Middle East.
This just shows that hiding "dont ask dont tell" and N.B.C. followed in those same footsteps. SHAME ON THEM!
Did He bring Home the Gold to America?
No! So Forget it!!!!
Oh, please!! Who didn't know he was by the time the gay gasp came out of his mouth when he received his final score?!?! Like we needed to be told the guy was twirlier than a party dress!! I think that we should be glad they didn't run a story about how difficult and dangerous it is to be gay and out in an olympic sport. At least just showing his reaction and not making a huge deal out of the fact that he is gay can inspire a youth to just go out there and live his/her dream… Besides that was a HUGE upset and they mostly just ran stories on the hopeful gold medalists during the preliminaries and semi-finals, no real stories were shared in the finals. And did anyone talk about the fact that one of the U.S.'s male divers was quite obviously an inspiring homo?