Live sports commentary is never without its surprises, but sometimes the unexpected is a little more cringe-worthy.
During a St. Louis Cardinals game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, commentator Chip Caray found himself in a tricky spot after accidentally mispronouncing a word during a promotional announcement.
The Mistake That Sparked an Uncomfortable Silence
In the fourth inning, Caray was tasked with reading out a promo about Disability Pride Night.
But when he got to the part mentioning the special Cardinals cap fans would receive, he stumbled over the word “flag” — accidentally turning it into an unfortunate homophobic slur.
“Disability Pride Night is July 10 and with a themed ticket fans take home a Cardinals cap featuring the Disability Pride f**,” Caray said, quickly correcting himself to “flag.”
What followed was a painfully long silence—about 30 seconds—while the game continued in the background, making the awkward moment all the more noticeable.
Colleague Breaks the Silence as Fans React Online
Caray’s broadcasting partner, Brad Thompson, finally broke the tension by commenting on a pitch call, allowing the show to move on.
Meanwhile, social media lit up as fans reacted to the mishap.
Many viewers were quick to sympathize, calling it an obvious slip of the tongue.
One fan wrote, “Uh oh, that’s a rough one lol.”
Another joked, “Loudest silence I’ve ever heard lol.”
Others pointed out that Caray’s silence spoke volumes—interpreting it as an unspoken apology and showing he was clearly mortified by the error.
Public Opinion Backs Caray as No Punishment Is Announced
Most fans and observers agreed that the incident was a genuine mistake rather than anything intentional. Comments like “He should not be reprimanded.
It was literally a slip of the tongue” were common, urging people to focus on bigger issues.
Later on Saturday, Front Office Sports reported that Chip Caray will face no suspension or formal punishment over the slip-up.
A Reminder That Everyone Makes Mistakes
At the end of the day, live broadcasting is fast-paced and mistakes happen, even to seasoned professionals like Caray.
The important thing is how they handle those moments—and this time, the quick correction and sincere silence seemed to say it all.