Dissed! NBC Sports Anchor Bob Costas Slams Caitlyn Jenner Over ESPYS Award, Calls It 'A Tabloid Play'

June 10 2015, Published 10:01 a.m. ET

While most celebrities have been singing Caitlyn Jenner's praises on her big transition, some aren't so keen on honoring the new woman – including NBC's Bob Costas.

The sports anchor recently weighed in on ESPN's decision to award Jenner the 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award next month, calling it a gimmick and slamming the reality star for not "deserving" an honor of that caliber.

"It strikes me that awarding the Arthur Ashe Award to Caitlyn Jenner is just a crass exploitation play — it's a tabloid play," Costas said in an interview on the Dan Patrick Show. "In the broad world of sports, I'm pretty sure they could've found someone — and this is not anything against Caitlyn Jenner — who was much closer, actively involved in sports, who would've been deserving of what that award represents."

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Later, he added: "That's not to say it doesn't take some measure of personal courage to do what Caitlyn Jenner has done."

But Costas quickly glossed over his mea culpa comment, being sure to share that he believed Jenner's honor was a simple stunt to boost ratings.

"I think this is just a play to pump up the audience. The way lots of things are put on television to attract eyeballs, not because of the validity, but because of whatever the kind of gawker factor is."

Meanwhile, the former Olympian seems unencumbered by all the fuss, instead worrying about her outfit for the affair: