Female sports journalists have condemned West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle and his controversial remarks during the Big Bash League coverage to Channel 10’s Mel McLaughlin.
Angela Pippos, a former ABC reporter and presenter, described Gayle’s advances to McLaughlin as “infuriating”, while Kelli Underwood, the first female to call AFL on television, said that it was about respect and setting an example.
Pippos said it was appalling that some people and even other journalists were calling for calm.
“To be told to calm down, it’s a joke. I find it infuriating. It all comes down to attitudes and perceptions and it’s a systematic problem.
“We have to change attitudes about girls, women and sport. You can sense change is happening and part of that is to call out sexist behaviour and don’t dismiss it as a joke,” she said.
“For me education is the key. It’s not OK to say wait to see if Mel McLaughlin is offended. People have to change. I’m a born optimist and I believe people have the ability to change and for that to happen people have to take a stand.
“It’s tough to confront. You always feel a bit nervous calling it out because you’re trying to get somewhere in your career. You worry about the backlash and being painted as too difficult.”
