Michaels sez Blue week is ‘worse than Weinstein’s’
DO you believe in pitiful? Renowned sports broadcaster Al Michaels awkwardly injected Harvey Weinstein’s ongoing sexual assault scandal into NBC’s Giants-Broncos telecast Sunday night, comparing the Hollywood bigwig’s transgressions to the level of turmoil the Giants had experienced this past week.
The Giants lost four starting receivers to injury in their loss to the Chargers last week, including season-ending injuries to Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Harris. The Giants also suspended Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie indefinitely after a meeting between Rodgers-Cromartie and coach Ben McAdoo.
“I mean, let’s face it. The Giants are coming off a worse week than Harvey Weinstein and they’re up 14 points,” Michaels said, to the amusement of fellow announcer Cris Collinsworth.
“Only my L.A. guy comes up with that one,” said Collinsworth, laughing. “There you go.”
“All you have to do is read the papers — any paper,” Michaels responded.
Michaels’ attempt at humor fell flat. Broaching the severity of Weinstein’s transgressions in the same sentence as an NFL team’s struggles was awkward, and given the politically charged climate of conservatives blasting Weinstein and Democrats but excusing President Donald Trump’s history of alleged sexual assault, it was especially untimely.
The Weinstein Company’s board fired Weinstein after it was reported there were a number of sexual harassment complaints against the Hollywood producer.
More than a dozen women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault.
The offhanded comment by Michaels comes after late-night comedian James Corden was criticized for his jokes related to the Weinstein scandal at the armFAR gala Friday night. Corden, who hosted the event in Los Angeles, made several jokes alluding to women being forced to give Weinstein massages and watch him take a bath.
“It’s a beautiful night here in LA — so beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked it to go up to his hotel to give him a massage,” Corden said, to a chorus of groans from the audience. “I don’t know whether that groan was that you like that joke, or you don’t like that joke. If you don’t like that joke, you should probably leave now.”
The “Late Late Show” host later apologized for his insensitive remarks.