A soccer pundit in Indonesia has apologized for uttering highly offensive and sexist remarks while commentating a game on live TV amid public outcry across the country.
As reported by BolaSport, on Friday, Rama Sugianto was commentating for the Shopee Liga 1 match up between Persita Tangerang and PSM Makassar for Jakarta-based TV station O Channel. As the camera zoomed to a group of women cheering in the stands, Rama said some highly inappropriate remarks about the women to his co-commentator, Erwin Fitriansyah.
"And now we can see here, something stands out, but it's not talent... Something is large, but it's not hope. What could that be, Erwin?" Rama said to Erwin while they both chuckled, with the latter replying, "These women that are decorating the stands?"
A clip of their exchange quickly went viral, attracting outrage from soccer fans and the general public.
Comments like these are highly inappropriate! – mohammed ali mahrus (@AlionelMessi_) March 8, 2020
Rama replied to the viral tweet above with an apology.
I'm sorry if my joke was way out of line. This is an important lesson for me moving forward. God willing this will not happen again. – rama_soegianto (@rama_sugianto) March 8, 2020
For many, though, one offense was one too many.
It won't happen again if they don't use you anymore (hired as a commentator). – #BingungJenengOpo (@BukanPegawaiJP) March 8, 2020
That wasnt a joke tho. Disgusting.https://t.co/fa2SnFwdJ5 – Thriller story? Check bio (@sasa_aziza) March 8, 2020
Meanwhile, as of the time of writing, Erwin has yet to issue a public apology. His Twitter and Instagram accounts have also been removed.
O Channel, for its part, has apologized for the sexist remarks and said it has issued a "stern warning" to Rama.
The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), the broadcasting watchdog that infamously ordered an ad featuring K-pop girl group BLACKPINK off the air for being too "vulgar," said it will launch an investigation into Rama's sexist remarks.
"What happened was regretful. But, whatever it is, KPI must go deep into the matter. We urge commentators to be careful with what they say [on air]," KPI Commissioner Yuliandre Darwis told reporters yesterday, as quoted by IndoSport.
Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/indonesian-soccer-commentator-under-fire-for-sexist-joke-on-air