Sports Anchor Apologizes To NASCAR Driver Danica Patrick For Sexist Tirade
Feb. 27 2012, Published 5:00 a.m. ET
By Debbie Emery - RadarOnline.com Reporter
The sports world has been rocked by yet another offensive verbal blunder after a news anchor went on a sexist tirade against NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, and RadarOnline.com has video of his rude rant.
Ross Shimabuku of Fox 5 in San Diego made a public apology on Sunday for the terrible comments against the female sports star that included referring her as a “b***h,” reported USAToday.com.
The incident in question aired live on the Fox affiliate KSWB last week when Shimabuku was talking about the GoDaddy.com spokeswoman’s debut in the Sprint Cup at the rain-delayed Daytona 500 and comments she had made about female athletes always being described as “sexy.”
He then came up with an alternative description for the brunette: “Oh, I've got a few words… Starts with a 'B', and it's not 'beautiful,’” he snipped nastily.
In his introduction to the piece, Shimabuku said sarcastically: “Danica Patrick is such a pretty girl,” who makes a lot of "money in sponsorships because of it. But what's not attractive is that she's sexy and she knows it."
He ended his insulting segment with one last jab, saying the 29-year-old former IndyCar driver "always has a chip on her shoulder, trying to prove something."
The sportscaster’s colleagues clearly didn’t agree with him, as anchor Kathleen Bade stuck up for Patrick: “Well, she’s a woman trying to break into a man’s world,” she said adamantly. “That cannot be easy.”
After being bombarded by e-mails in response to his sexism, Shimabuku’s apology four days later seemed a lot less heart-felt than his initial verbal attack.
“I truly apologize if I offended anyone by those comments,” he said. “It was not meant to be an attack on Danica, I’ve worked with her before in Phoenix. I think she’s great for the sport.”
The Fox sports reporter’s sexist comments come hot on the heels of the racist slur against New York Knicks star player Jeremy Lin, when an ESPN writer described his performance in his team’s recent loss as “a chink in the armor.”
The slur caused outrage among NBA fans and Taiwanese-Americans and writer Anthony Federico was fired, while anchor Max Bretos who said the phrase was suspended for 30 days.
Watch Shimabuku's on-air slipup below:
Take a look at his apology below:
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