Tennis Channel removes analyst Jon Wertheim for his controversial ‘forehead’ remark on Barbora Krejcikova
Barbora Krejcikova had also called out Jon Wertheim for his unprofessional commentary during her campaign at the WTA Finals.
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Jon Wertheim made controversial comment on Barbora Krejcikova (Images via X)
Journalist Jon Wertheim made a controversial comment on Tennis Channel about Barbora Krejcikova‘s physical appearance when she was playing at the WTA Finals. Wertheim joked about Krejcikova’s forehead and when the player learned about this, she took to X and condemned him.
Krejcikova censured him for his ‘unprofessional commentary’ for focusing on her appearance rather than her performance. Tennis Channel has now announced that it has removed Wertheim.
When Tennis Channel became aware of an inappropriate comment about a professional tennis player made by our analyst Jon Wertheim on Friday, we immediately removed him from our air indefinitely.
Tennis Channel stated
I do feel @TennisChannel need to suspend Jon Wertheim with immediate effect. Society has worked hard in recent years to ensure that casual sexism in media is unacceptable
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) November 10, 2024
Jon making a derogatory towards a woman who understandably felt hurt and disrespected by it takes us back. pic.twitter.com/Qy0FoDTZPC
Wertheim apologized to the 28-year-old and explained that it was the camera angle that ‘exaggerated’ Krejcikova’s forehead. He claimed the comments were made during rehearsal and when he was joking with someone in the control room, he ended up making that ‘eighthead’ remark, which was aired accidentally.
The network also apologized to the player, Barbora Krejcikova, as did Jon. Jon has dedicated his career to shining a light on and growing this sport and has been a valued member of our family and the tennis community. That said, Tennis Channel holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met at this moment.
Tennis Channel added
You might have heard about the recent comments made on Tennis Channel during the WTA Finals coverage that focused on my appearance rather than my performance. As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional (cont.)
— Barbora Krejcikova (@BKrejcikova) November 10, 2024
WTA breaks silence on the Barbora Krejcikova controversy
The WTA issued a stern statement after Jon Wertheim’s controversial comment on Barbora Krejcikova. It has backed Krejcikova for calling out the tennis analyst.
This should be the norm for all women in all working environments. Respect is due as a right, not a privilege to be earned.
WTA wrote on X
Here’s WTA’s full statement:
Statement from the WTA:
— wta (@WTA) November 10, 2024
There is no place in sport for inappropriate comments about female athletes. The WTA stands in full support of Barbora’s powerful call for respect. This should be the norm for all women in all working environments. Respect is due as a right, not a…
As mentioned earlier, the comments were made during Krejcikova’s run in Riyadh for the WTA Finals. She reached her first semifinals in singles in the year-end event but got knocked out after Qinwen Zheng defeated her in straight sets.
Zheng, though reached the summit clash of the WTA Finals for the first time, lost to Coco Gauff in three sets. En route to the semifinal, Krejcikova lost to Iga Swiatek before beating Jessica Pegula and Gauff in her next two group-stage matches.
The World No. 10, who is 18/15 on the season, has lifted one title this season. She defeated Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon final to clinch her second Grand Slam singles trophy (the first being the 2021 French Open).
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Gouri Das
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