During a recent GB News broadcast, a conversation about Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova took an unexpected turn when Eamonn Holmes took a swipe at his co-star, Isabel Webster.
The discussion was about a controversial comment made by journalist L. Jon Wertheim, who mocked the tennis player’s appearance.
The Dispute Over Jon Wertheim’s Comments
The conversation began when the hosts and Paul Coyte, who was delivering the latest sports news, discussed Wertheim’s on-air remarks about Krejcikova’s forehead.
Paul showed a clip of Wertheim joking about the size of the tennis star’s forehead during live coverage.
He asked, “Is that a huge deal he’s gone because he’s like ‘look at the forehead’—what do you think?”
Isabel responded by saying that she found the comments “unnecessarily harsh.”
However, Eamonn, known for his sharp wit, immediately responded with a remark aimed at her, saying, “You’re just speaking as a woman with a big forehead.”
The comment caught everyone off guard and added fuel to the fire of the conversation.
Isabel and Eamonn’s Clash
The debate continued as Isabel took a stand against the focus on Krejcikova’s physical appearance.
“She can’t do anything about it, you know, she’s got a big forehead, why is that an interesting part of her?” Isabel said.
She also noted how women’s appearances are often unfairly scrutinized in the media.
Eamonn, on the other hand, disagreed with Isabel’s perspective.
He argued that it wasn’t about women in particular but about anyone who stands out or is “different” in some way.
“If I went out in tennis shorts, all people would be talking about is my appearance,” he quipped.
Despite their differences, Isabel continued with the rest of the headlines without missing a beat.
Krejcikova’s Response and Wertheim’s Apology
Barbora Krejcikova soon responded to Wertheim’s remarks, expressing her disappointment that her appearance was being discussed instead of her performance.
She shared her thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary.”
She also emphasized the importance of respect in sports media and the need to focus on athletes’ talents rather than their looks.
Wertheim, who has since been taken off the air, apologized for his comments.
He explained that the joke was made in a private rehearsal but accidentally aired during a live broadcast.
“Though this was a private rehearsal, this exchange inadvertently and without context, made it to live air,” he wrote on X, acknowledging that it was unprofessional and apologizing for his words.
Tennis Channel’s Response
Following the incident, Tennis Channel issued a statement apologizing to Krejcikova and confirming that Wertheim had been removed from the network indefinitely.
The network reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism and respect, adding, “Tennis Channel holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment.”
Wertheim also apologized publicly, taking full responsibility for the comments.
This controversy sheds light on the growing discussion around body image and professionalism in sports media.
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