Cincinnati Reds Play-by-play announcer and son of Hall of Fame announcer Marty Brennaman, Thom Brennaman, could be heard during last night’s pre-game show before the second in a double-header with the Kansas City Royals, saying “One of the f*g capitals of the world,” before announcing the game was about to continue.
It’s unknown what led to that remark and the context behind it.
Steinlight Media released a statement on Brennaman’s behalf.
“I would like to sincerely apologize for the inappropriate comments I made during last night’s telecast. I made a terrible mistake. To the LGBTQ community, and all people I have hurt or offended, from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry. I respectfully ask for your grace and forgiveness,” the statement said.
The comment was made after a commercial break during a doubleheader between the Reds and the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Reds released a statement, saying that the “organization is devastated by the horrific, homophobic remark.”
During the second game of the doubleheader, Brennaman “was pulled off the air, and effective immediately was suspended from doing Reds broadcasts,” the organization said in the statement.
In the top of the fifth inning, following a commercial break, Brennaman, who in addition to calling Reds’ games also works for Fox Sports, apologized before he went off the air.
“I made a comment earlier tonight that I guess went out over the air that I am deeply ashamed of,” Brennaman said. “If I have hurt anyone out there, I can’t tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart I’m so very, very sorry. I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith.”
After calling a home run that happened in the midst of his statement, he continued.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be putting on this headset again,” Brennaman said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be for the Reds. I don’t know if it’s going to be for my bosses at Fox.
“I want to apologize for the people who sign my paycheck, for the Reds, for Fox Sports Ohio, for the people I work with. For anybody that I’ve offended here tonight, I can’t begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am.”
The comment came during a break in the game while WSLM 1220 AM and WSLM 97.9 FM aired its first episode of Season 43 of Coaches Corner.
Brennaman and his father have both appeared in the WSLM stop of the Red’s Caravan in Salem.
