BBC Broadcaster Corrects Colleague Who Misgenders U.S. Shot Putter Raven Saunders
A BBC sportscaster corrected her colleague after he misgendered U.S. shot putter Raven Saunders at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Saunders, a silver medalist at the 2021 Tokyo Games whouses they/them pronouns, appeared onscreen fully masked with green and purple hair and sunglasses.
“The colorful character Raven Saunders is back,” the BBC’s Steve Backley said in a clip of the exchange. “Good to see her back, sort of. Sort of see her, I mean.”
“Well we can’t see them very well,” Jazmin Sawyers replied. “Raven Saunders is actually nonbinary and wearing the mask there. We’re quite used to seeing them with interesting attire. Should that be allowed? Why not.”
“Why not indeed,” Backley replied.
Saunders went viral at the Tokyo Olympics for twerking after their second-place showing and raising their arms in an X to recognize “all people who are oppressed” during the medal ceremony.
Saunders has worn a variety of masks, including one with the comic-book character Hulk’s grimace and another with the Joker’s smile.
The athlete served an 18-month suspension for skipping drug tests, and missed last year’s world championships.
Saunders advanced to the final with a throw of 18.62 meters (about 61 feet).
