BBC Tells Presenter His ‘Little Barbie’ Comment to Female Cricketer is ‘Not Appropriate’
A BBC presenter has faced backlash from the corporation after making a comment deemed “not appropriate” during a match interview with a female Australian cricketer. Chris Hughes, a presenter for “The Hundred,” a franchise cricket competition in the UK, came under fire for referring to cricketer Maitlan Brown as a “little Barbie.”
The incident occurred on Tuesday when Brown mentioned that her team, the Southern Brave, had bonded by playing a practice game and watching the “Barbie” movie together. In response, Hughes made the controversial remark, saying, “You’re a little Barbie yourself with your blue eyes,” followed by, “She’s blushing now.”
The comment drew criticism on social media, with many expressing their disapproval of Hughes’ choice of words. LBC presenter Nick Ferrari remarked that Hughes, who gained fame as a contestant on the reality TV dating show “Love Island,” should know better. One Twitter user also commented, “Had to rewind to check I’d heard it right. Took a while to go back a few decades but yep, there it was (sic).”
A spokesperson for the BBC addressed the issue in a statement to CNN, stating that they had spoken to Chris Hughes and explained that his comment was not appropriate.
Maitlan Brown, an all-rounder for the Southern Brave, eventually helped her team secure a victory against the Trent Rockets by 27 runs in their opening match of “The Hundred.”
Hughes’ role as part of the BBC’s presenting team for “The Hundred” and his contributions to ITV’s horseracing coverage has garnered attention, but this incident has raised concerns about the use of inappropriate language and the need for responsible and respectful commentary during sporting events.
