Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman issued an on-air apology for using an anti-gay slur during the broadcast of Cincinnati’s game at the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.
Brennaman issued the apology in the fifth inning of the second game of a doubleheader, saying he was “deeply ashamed.” He then signed off and turned play-by-play duties over to Jim Day.
“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.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be putting on this headset again. 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 will 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.”
Brennaman used the slur moments after the Fox Sports Ohio broadcast returned from a commercial break before the top of the seventh inning of Game 1 of the doubleheader. Brennaman did not seem to realize he was already on air.
Major League Baseball was aware of the incident but did not have an immediate comment. The Reds did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“I can’t begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am,” Brennaman said. “That is not who I am. It never has been. And I’d like to think maybe I could have some people that could back that up. I am very, very sorry and I beg for your forgiveness.”
The son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, Thom has called major league games for 33 years and has been with Fox Sports for the past 27, covering primarily baseball and football.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
