Skirting the issue
BBC announcer under fire for quip
Commentator Peter Alliss caused a sexism row by referring to the short skirt worn by Sergio Garcia’s fiancée.
The 86-yearold made the off-mic remark Sunday about Angela Akins in BBC coverage of the Masters.
As images were shown of Akins, 31, reacting to Garcia’s win, Alliss’ muffled voice was heard saying: “She’s got the shortest skirt on the campus.”
On Monday, the BBC confirmed Alliss believed he was off air when he made the “light-hearted” comment and accepts that it was “inappropriate.”
The remark was picked up by viewers who watched the dramatic events when Spain’s Garcia beat British rival Justin Rose to claim his first-ever major.
One member of the TV audience of more than 2.5 million called for the BBC to get rid of Alliss immediately, saying he “ruined” Garcia’s “finest moment” with the “disgraceful comment.”
This is the latest in a string of sexism rows to engulf the long-serving commentator.
Akins, 31, who started dating Garcia almost two years ago, is a former college golfer who has worked as a reporter on the Golf Channel. They announced their engagement in January and plan to marry in July. In the closing stages of the battle between Garcia and Rose, Akins was shown by the side of the green cheering in a baseball cap, gray jogging top, blue skirt and sneakers.
@chuBuBBawuB wrote on Twitter: “BBC Sport Get rid of Peter Alliss NOW. He just ruined Sergio’s finest moment making a disgraceful comment about his fiance’s skirt.”
A BBC spokesman said: “Whilst believing he was off air Peter made a light hearted remark which he now knows was inappropriate.”