A BBC Olympics commentator was corrected live on the air by his broadcast partner for calling a U.S. shot putter a “her” even though the athlete identifies as “non-binary.”
USA athlete Raven Saunders has been a colorful competitor, to say the least. Adopting the nickname “The Hulk,” Saunders stepped up to the ring with green and purple hair, a full-face mask, and long, colorful fingernails. Saunders has also had a bedazzled glove with “HULK” spelled out in crystals.
But as Saunders prepared to qualify for the finals in shot put, BBC commentator Steve Backley introduced the athlete as a “her,” saying, “it’s good to see her back.”
More gender madness at the Olympics in the women’s shot put. The host introduces Raven Saunders, saying “it’s good to see her back”.
— James Esses (@JamesEsses) August 8, 2024
He is promptly corrected by his co-host, saying “they are actually non-binary”.
If they’re not a woman, why are they in the women’s competition? pic.twitter.com/i0FFHyAWKX
“The colorful character of Raven Saunders back. Good to see her back, sort of. Sort of see her, I mean,” Backley said, referring to Saunders’ face mask.
Backley, though, was quickly corrected by his BBC co-host, Jazmin Sawyers.
“Well, we can’t actually see them very well. Raven Saunders is actually non-binary and wearing a mask there – we are quite used to seeing them with interesting attire,” Sawyers exclaimed.
Social media quickly jumped on the live “non-binary” correction.
“Pathetic,” one X user wrote.
Pathetic.
— Billy Bragg (@Serena_Partrick) August 8, 2024
“Then why is ‘they’ participating in a women’s event?” another asked.
Then why is "they" participating in a women's event? 🤔
— Amy2112 (@Amy21123) August 8, 2024
v
Another user decried where our culture has gone, writing, “15 years ago that would have been a funny SNL sketch, now it’s reality.”
15 years ago that would have been a funny SNL sketch, now it's reality.
— Dan Thurman (@MotiveXRP) August 8, 2024
Many others piled on:
ALL of the things we’ve seen as trusted institutions, including schooling systems
— tonycahill (@tonycahill1969) August 8, 2024
ALL little threads to destabilise trust and induce fear.
Sadly it’s all staged for our benefit?
How easy they control us
🙏🌏
The Olympics have become such a passé thing, totally destroyed from what it once was.
— Anneke-CH (@Greytaitai) August 8, 2024
What a freakshow! 😁
— Hanne C. Ramberg 🎗️ (@hanneramberg) August 8, 2024
This is absolutely freaking ridiculous! If the people in charge of the Olympics had any balls at all they would say we don’t recognize non-binary you’re either a biological male or a biological female which one are you? End the insanity now!
— Jovan (@Jovan333) August 8, 2024
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