ESPN’s live coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational took an unexpected turn when offensive audio about Donald Trump and Texas Representative Al Green briefly aired during Friday’s broadcast.
The incident occurred while cameras were focused on golfer Xander Schauffele’s shot from a fairway bunker on the 16th hole.
Just as viewers watched the ball rolling toward the green, the typical commentary suddenly cut out.
Shocking Audio Sparks Controversy
For a few seconds, instead of golf coverage, an unrelated and offensive audio clip about Trump and Green played on the ESPN+ feed.
The clip, which appeared to mimic the style of British broadcaster David Attenborough, made derogatory remarks about Green, referring to him in a racially charged manner.
This unexpected intrusion quickly led to outrage on social media, with many users calling out the content as offensive and racist.
Investigating the Source
The controversy deepened when Business Insider traced the audio back to a video posted by the pro-Trump Instagram account @presidentialreviews.
The video contained inflammatory language, making degrading references to Green and mocking his recent protest in Congress.
The clip labeled the congressman with offensive nicknames and included a fabricated narrative about his political stance and personal life.
The Congressional Clash That Led to Censure
Green recently made headlines after being forcibly removed from the House floor during President Trump’s address to Congress.
The Texas Democrat, visibly frustrated, stood up in protest, waving his cane and shouting against proposed healthcare cuts.
His outburst led to a formal censure from the House, further fueling political tensions.
Fallout and Reactions
The incident on ESPN has raised questions about how such an audio feed was mistakenly aired during live sports coverage.
While the network quickly resumed its regular programming, the brief interruption left a lasting impact, reigniting debates over political discourse and media responsibility.
Viewers and analysts alike are now waiting to see if ESPN will address the mishap and whether further investigations will be conducted.