Sports host Jason Cundy said on ITV Good Morning Britain that female World Cup commentators are “high-pitched” and added that he didn’t “want to hear” them commenting on the matches.
Cundy, who is a host for TalkSport, was a guest on ITV’s Good Morning. His comments came in response to Vicki Sparks who in June was “the first female commentator for a live World Cup match,” according to the Guardian.
Cundy said:
“I found it a tough listen. I prefer to hear a male voice. For 90 minutes listening to a high-pitched tone isn’t what I want to hear.
“When there’s a moment of drama, which there often is in football, I think that moment needs to be done with a slightly lower voice.”
Cundy maintained it was only her voice he had a problem with. “It’s nothing to do with her insight, the way she delivers it or her knowledge or her ability to do the job – it’s the voice,” he said, according to the Guardian.
That said, he later apologized on Twitter. In late June tweets, he wrote:
“I want to sincerely apologise for the comments I made on Good Morning Britain. I came away realising just how foolish and out of order they were and how I deserved the backlash I have received.
“There are times when you have to hold your hands up and admit you are wrong and have been an idiot – and this is definitely one of those times
“I regret the comments and also the hurt and anger they caused. I realise there is absolutely no place for these demeaning attitudes towards female commentators and I’m truly sorry.”
Cundy also read the apology on TalkSport.
iMediaEthics has written to Cundy’s representative for more information.