Several female reporters are being criticized for being outraged over a male sports broadcaster’s lighthearted banter with two female fans live on the air during Monday’s Atlanta Braves-Toronto Blue Jays game.
FanDuel reporter Wiley Ballard was reporting live from the Blue Jays rooftop patio at Rogers Centre, where he met two young blond fans watching the game. Ballard engaged in lighthearted chatter with the women, asking how often they attend the games and if they are rooting for the Atlanta Braves.
Ballard’s colleagues in the booth, though, joked with him that he only had five more innings to “get the numbers. ” Ballard then told one of the women that his co-workers in the announcing booth wanted him to get her telephone number, which she seemed happy to supply.
Shoutout to my guy @wileyballard_ setting the standard for sports reporters getting a phone number out in the wild.
— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) April 15, 2025
10/10 work
🎥@fanduelsnbraves pic.twitter.com/RFEyd605Lb
But while the segment seemed to have been in good fun, some female reporters were incensed by Ballard’s efforts to “get the numbers” and blasted the FanDuel reporter for inappropriate behavior.
Arizona Cardinals reporter Danu Sureck was furious over Ballard’s little on-air bit and claimed that there is a double standard in sports reporting.
“Sooooo are we still gonna ask women in sports if they’re only doing their job to date athletes?? We can all agree how inappropriate and nasty this is, not to mention the double standard, right?” she wrote on X.
Sooooo are we still gonna ask women in sports if they’re only doing their job to date athletes?? We can all agree how inappropriate and nasty this is, not to mention the double standard, right? https://t.co/lDNeaBHsPt
— Dani Sureck (@DaniSureck) April 15, 2025
Not to be outdone, CBS Sports editor Kate Feldman called Ballard’s bit “insanely inappropriate.”
“This is one of the most insanely inappropriate things I’ve ever seen. Like I legitimately cannot believe it’s real,” she exploded.
This is one of the most insanely inappropriate things I've ever seen. Like I legitimately cannot believe it's real. https://t.co/gj2WGbkmjQ
— Kate Feldman (@kateefeldman) April 15, 2025
Teagan Brown, a sports director for a Florida radio station, was also triggered by the bit and wrote, “Here’s the thing, I don’t ever really comment on stuff like this, but glorifying this moment is just not okay.”
She added, “If this were a female reporter… people would call it unprofessional… but it’s a male reporter, which means people will find it funny and tweet about how great this is.”
Here's the thing, I don't ever really comment on stuff like this, but glorifying this moment is just not okay.
— Teagan Brown (@Teagannbrownn) April 15, 2025
If this were a female reporter... people would call it unprofessional... but it's a male reporter which means people will find it funny and tweet about how great this… https://t.co/H2sdlKw70a
Many more female reporters were going off on FanDuel’s Ballard, and these outraged women certainly had plenty of comments in support, with some calling Ballard “creepy,” or “a douche.”
However, there were far more scoldings of these female reporters for overreacting:
Just cause he’s not asking you doesn’t make it inappropriate. This is funny and the girls are clearly getting a laugh out of it.
— Mets Bio (@Metsbio) April 15, 2025
Those are random fans, not athletes, and she seems to be enjoying it. It's actually quite funny if you just take a chill pill. And he was respectful. Not everything needs to be a thing.
— Lord Dylly 🏈 (@Lord_Dylly) April 15, 2025
*For the record I'm all for female reporters
This is rage bait, right? I “legitimately cannot believe” you’re upset over this.
— Matt 🐺 (@MattJBenoit_) April 15, 2025
What you're missing since all you picked up is a social media snippet, is Wiley is a genuinely nice local guy that is living his dream. Those of us that watch and follow him on a regular basis are thrilled with his continued development. That said, you might need to get a life.
— Skip mfoiii (@mfoiii) April 15, 2025
They’re clearly okay with it, just messing around. This is the most inappropriate thing you’ve ever seen? Give me a break
— Jerry Reinsdork (@DaChicagoBeers) April 15, 2025
Two types of people: unhappy scolds who are mostly the sports journalists and the normies that wouldn’t care but for the former complaining.
— Michael K. Woods (@michael_k_woods) April 15, 2025
It’s honestly so funny and great 😂
— Team Captain (@20dollar_bet) April 15, 2025
When did everyone become such whimps about everything?
— Drew Ruis (@Captainkirklah) April 15, 2025
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