According to Fox News network reported on January 17, a radio station in Maine recently fired two anchors because they openly mocked the weight of student players when they broadcast a high school girls' basketball game.
According to US media reports, the two teams participating in the game at that time were from Easton High School and Arustuk Center High School, and the two commentators did not seem to realize that their microphones had been turned on when they laughed at the players during the commentary. According to local media reports, an event commentator at the time said, "There are two extremely overweight girls here" and "Horror!" ”。 After making this comment, the narrator even laughed. Another narrator, Steve Shaw, also specifically mentioned that "you have to find the right jersey for overweight girls.". According to another television report, commentator Jim Carter also recognized a female player based on the jersey number and said: "Wow... You go and see her. ”
Easton Middle School team coach Emily Hill also heard these inappropriate comments that day. Emily Hill said, "It's frustrating and unsettling to hear these words, especially for young girls," "It's very frustrating to hear what these men are saying."
According to US media reports, the radio station involved in the incident is called WHOU-FM. Radio owner Fred Grant told the Portland Herald that because the two narrators, Jim Carter and Steve Shaw, the radio station received a large number of angry complaints from local community personnel and parents, so the two have been directly fired.
According to the Portland Herald, the commentators involved have been broadcasting the game for the station for about a month. Shaw was previously the athletic director at Easton High School, while Carter was a retired teacher and coach at another school. The station's owner noted that commentators had been warned to focus on the game rather than "making negative comments about players, coaches, etc."
According to US media reports, on Friday local time, the narrator involved in the incident, Carter, said that he had apologized to the head of the school because the player he ridiculed was from this school. Carter said, "I don't even know what to say," and "Hopefully everyone will get through this." ”
(Editor: LH)