Hefty fine for Gayle’s flirty ‘joke’
The Melbourne Renegades fined star opener Chris Gayle $7,000 on Tuesday after he attempted to flirt with a female interviewer on live TV.
Cricket authorities quickly condemned Gayle’s action as “completely out of line.”
Ten Network reporter Mel McLaughlin found herself being asked out for a drink during an interview with the burly West Indian after he blasted 41 runs off 15 balls in Australia’s Big Bash League on Monday night.
Live on air, Gayle — who later insisted he was just joking — said he was happy to be interviewed by McLaughlin “just to see your eyes for the first time”.
“Nice, so hopefully we can win this game and we can have a drink after,” he said.
“Don’t blush baby,” the Jamaican said, prompting the unimpressed McLaughlin to shake her head and reply: “I’m not blushing.”
“Sorry,” added Gayle, breaking into a big laugh.
Cricket Australia and BBL officials did not see the humor in what Gayle later insisted was meant as a joke.
Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland offered support for McLaughlin, saying that no one should have to face such comments, “which were completely out of line and inappropriate for the workplace”.
Sutherland said Gayle was not in a “nightclub” and emphasized the player’s behavior was “not cool”.
“I think that anyone who sees humor in that is misunderstanding and somewhat delusional about the situation,” Sutherland said.
With the governing body leaving open the possibility of sanctions, the Renegades quickly announced the club was fining Gayle.
Club CEO Stuart Coventry said the money would be donated to the Jane McGrath Foundation, named after legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath’s late wife, who died of breast cancer.
Coventry offered a formal apology “for the offense caused” to McLaughlin and fans.
“We think this is a one-off scenario,” he said, describing the exchange as “a cultural indifference ... done in jest”.
“He’s accepted it (the fine) in good faith and he’s looking forward to playing what’s hopefully a sell-out derby game on Saturday,” Coventry said.
Gayle was apologetic on Tuesday morning, but also tried to brush off the incident and said it had been blown out of proportion.
“There wasn’t anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel,” he told reporters.
“If she felt that way, I’m really sorry for that.
“There wasn’t any harm meant in that particular way ... It was a simple joke. The game was going on.
“Entertainment, things get out of proportion, but these things happen. We have to move on. Simple.”
It didn’t take long for the cringe-worthy incident to light up social media, with former England captain and Ten commentator Andrew Flintoff tweeting: “Big fan of @henrygayle but he made himself look like a bit of a chop there.”