US sportswriter fired after questioning Sato Indy win
LOS ANGELES: An American sportwriter has been sacked after voicing dismay at Takuma Sato’s Indianapolis 500 victory as the United States honors its war dead, the journalist’s newspaper confirmed Monday.
Denve r Po s t j ourna l i s t Terry Frei had triggered an outcry after a post on Twitter on Sunday complaining about Sato’s win, which coincided with the Memorial Day weekend holiday.
“Nothing specifically personal, but I am very uncomfortable with a Japanese driver winning the Indianapolis 500 during Memorial Day weekend,” Frei wrote.
The post was later deleted after an avalanche of criticism, with many calling for his dismissal.
“Nothing specifically personal, but I hope @ denverpost fires you,” one post read.
Frei later apologised before at t empt ing to c lar i fy h i s perspective, explaining that he had written extensively about an American footbal ler who had died fighting the Japanese alongside his father in the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.
“I apologise to Takuma Sato, I made a stupid reference during an emotional weekend, to one of the nations that we fought in World War II,” Frei wrote.
“Again, I will say I’m sorry, I know better and I’m angry at mysel f because there was no constructive purpose in saying it ...” he added.
However the apology cut no ice with Frei’s employers who announced the reporter’s sacking on Monday.
“We ap o l o g i s e for t he disrespectful and unacceptable tweet that was sent out by one of our reporters,” the newspaper said in a statement posted on Twitter.
“Terry Frei is no longer an employee of The Denver Post. The tweet doesn’t represent what we believe nor what we stand for. We hope you will accept our profound apologies,” the paper’s statement added. — AFP