BBC response after Australian cricketer Maitlan Brown called ‘bit of a Barbie’ in interview

An Australian cricketer has been compared to a Barbie and a netballer labelled “fat” in shocking examples of sexist sport commentary. Watch them here.

Maitlan Brown. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

Just when you thought commentary of women’s sports couldn’t get any more cringe-worthy, along comes not one but two contenders for most inappropriate comments of the year.

And this time, it’s not just men putting their foot in it – but more on that later.

First, lets start with the creepy male English cricket commentator who channelled his inner Chris Gayle and ‘don’t blush baby’ vibes when chatting with Australian cricketer Maitlan Brown during The Hundred series.

Former Love Island contestant Chris Hughes proved why you shouldn’t give reality TV contestants real television jobs when he gushed over Australia’s blond-haired emerging star.

All was going well, until Brown mentioned a team bonding detail.

“We watched Barbie the other night altogether and it was really good team bonding and the group is gelling really well together,” Brown said.

“That is the key to success I think in tournaments like this, how well and how quickly you can gel as a group.”

Chris Hughes interviews Maitlan Brown.

It was at this point, Hughes thought he was back on the island, not broadcasting serious women’s sport to a worldwide audience.

“You’re a bit of a barbie yourself,” he said, prompting an awkward and uncomfortable laugh from Brown.

“She’s blushing now,” he continued before moving onto his next question.

Fans took to social media to express their outrage over the jaw-dropping exchange, with one posting: ‘Has Chris Hughes apologised for this? Hideous!’

The BBC, broadcasters of the match, were equally unimpressed and issued Hughes with a warning.

“We have spoken to Chris and explained that his comment was not appropriate,” a statement from the BBC read.

Nahhhhhh
"She is fat but can still jump" 🙈🙈#NWC2023pic.twitter.com/bKawYfgIjN

— Mrs Amy Wright-Foster (@missamyleigh) August 1, 2023

The absolute state of this @BBCSport

"Batsman"

"You're a bit of a Barbie yourself"

So much great young journalistic cricket talent in the UK, and you hire that clown @chrishughes_22, because demographics, innit pic.twitter.com/f7FwAtQjR9

— Always Look on the Bright Cider Life 🍎🏏🍎🏏🍎 (@somersetpodcast) August 1, 2023

Had to rewind to check id heard it right. Took a while to go back a few decades but yep, there it was. pic.twitter.com/0BBzyjpUTn

— George Elsby (@George_E) August 1, 2023

But if you thought that was bad, at least he didn’t call her fat like a netball commentator in South Africa did during the Tonga and Zimbabwe clash.

The female commentator was attempting to praise one of the players, but while the camera was fixed on the Zimbabwean goalshooter she made a brutal remark about weight.

“She is reminding me a lot of myself, she is fat but she can jump and get the ball at the same time,” the unnamed commentator said.

Even her co-commentator remarked at the time “you can’t say that.”

Originally published as BBC response after Australian cricketer Maitlan Brown called ‘bit of a Barbie’ in interview