French commentator slammed for ‘sexist’ commentary during Olympics tennis match

A French radio commentator is being called out after making “sexist” remarks during a recent tennis match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

On July 30, French players Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry faced off against Italian athletes Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in a doubles matchup. As the pairs competed on the tennis court, a broadcaster for RMC, a private French-Monégasque radio station, reportedly made a comment about Errani that has since been condemned by the French association of women sports journalists and the union of sports journalists in France.

In a YouTube clip shared by Elle, the commentator can be heard saying, “There is Sara Errani, who is the boss. She does everything: She does the dishes, she cooks, she mops,” in a translation from French.

On Aug. 1, the Associated Press reported that the two unions reacted to the commentary in a joint statement, writing, “sexist and misogynistic comments have no place in an international competition.”

Paolini and Errani have not posted on their social media accounts about the French radio commentary but have been seemingly undeterred. The two went on to defeat Katie Boulter and Heather Watson of Great Britain in the quarterfinals the following day. Paolini and Errani will play Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchová of Czechia in the semifinals on Aug. 2.

The statement from the two journalist unions also seemed to reference another Olympics commentator who recently made headlines: Eurosport’s Bob Ballard.

The two unions said, “We note that elsewhere in Europe, when there is a slip-up, there are sanctions.” However, the statement did not include consequences for the RMC broadcaster.

Ballard was fired by Eurosport earlier this week after he also made a comment that rubbed some viewers the wrong way.

After the Australian women’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay team clinched the gold medal on July 27, the ladies started to make their way from the pool deck to the podium.

Ballard informed viewers that the winning team was “just finishing off” and added “you know what women are like... hanging around, you know, doing their makeup.”

Co-commentator and former Olympic swimmer Lizzie Simmonds responded, “Outrageous, Bob,” as he began to laugh.

Simmonds then said, “Some of the men are doing that as well, I’ll have you know,” before chuckling.

Ballard’s remarks were shared in a video on TikTok with the caption, “Casual sexism being thrown around on the swimming coverage…”

The social media user added, “Baffling that this still happens on OLYMPIC coverage?? And in general??”

On July 28, Eurosport announced that Ballard would no longer serve as a commentator for the Summer Games, British newspaper The Independent reported.

“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” Eurosport said. “To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”

Ballard issued an apology to viewers on X.

“The comments I made during the Australian freestyle relay victory ceremony on Saturday have caused some offence. It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and, if I did, I apologise. I am a massive advocate of women’s sport,” he tweeted.

He wrote in a follow-up post, “I shall miss the Eurosport team, dearly and wish them all the best for the rest of the Olympics. No further comment will be issued. Thank you.”

Balalrd also told social media users to not “pile in on” Simmonds in a third tweet.

“She has nothing to do with this,” he wrote.

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This article was originally published on TODAY.com