An Australian Tennis tv commentator infuriated tennis fans and offended African Americans around the world with his sexist remarks about Venus Williams derrière. Roger Rasheed, a former coach of Lleyton Hewitt, made the comments during a slow-motion replay of a match between Venus Williams and China’s Yan Zi at the Australian Open this past weekend.
“Take a look at this now,” said Rasheed to his co-commentators Tracy Austin and Nicole Bradtke. “Make or think as you will, ladies, but for me, that’s a pretty good sight.”
Former tennis champ Austin pointed out that Williams had more going for her than just her booty, “she’s got her own clothing line.. and she brings more than just her tennis game to the court.”
Fans around the country lit up the tv station’s switchboard with complaints. Some felt the remarks were inappropriate during a live tennis broadcast.
NBC said there would be no action taken against Rasheed.
offensive-no..inappropriate-yes
Well…he just said what a lot of people are thinking. Not that it makes it appropriate, BUT IT’S THE TRUTH! What kind of action could be taken…he could issue an apology, but it wouldn’t be sincere.
I don’t think it was offensive either. I’ve heard a whole lot worse than that. Don Immus still wins.
People are just to uptight. I was up watching her match and one regular tv female commentator said her shorts were too short. The same commentator forgets the days when it was standard for players to wear tennis skirts with lollipops underneath. Those are practically panties or booty shorts under the tennis skirts, so there is virtually no difference. I think there is just some underlying booty envy…
“too uptight” Sandra, where’s the preview function? lol
I’m offended by the commentator who said her shorts are to short. That sounded like envy, I could care less about the other commentators lust.lol. That’s normal.
Well she does have a nice booty and her shorts are short, but I think that could have been mentioned after the match and not during.
I’m a fan of both the Williams sisters and don’t see anything offensive in what he said, cuz it’s the truth! Hell, I hope he covers Serena’s second round match.
ok i’m lost what did he say that was so bad ? people just want drama..
what was there to be offended about? A lot of women would like or even love to have that said about their ass lol.
I don’t get what all the fuss is about. White women must have gotton upset because that white man was checking out that ass!!!!
Me thinks hey now may be onto something.
Both the Williams sister has ass. You can’t hide ass and you can’t stop women hating and men lusting!!!
It was a compliment.
Not offensive at all..I think it was okay. Finally someone says something nice about an African American body type.
QUITE A SIGHT INDEED!!!!
Definitely not offensive…probably shouldn’t have said it like that on the air but oh well, atleast he’s not talking about lynching someone in an alley.
Not very professional but it didn’t warrant being called offensive.
They’re only labeling it “offensive” to keep a well-rounded rump from becoming too much of a desirable commodity amongst the YT male population. You know they’re still scratching their heads at what to do about Kim Kardashian.
Of course NBC won’t take action, because it’s just another case of a woman flat out not being respected. That is his place of work and he should keep his comments to himself and treat it as such. In any other work place that is called sexual harrasment.
It’s a shame that every takes this as a compliment. Are you kidding me? There is nothing ok with what he said. It’s ok to demean and reduce a woman to nothing more than her physical assets? Yes she has a great backside, but to talk about it during a tennis match shows a lack of respect. Homeboy needs to take the microphone away from hims penis, because it has no business talking.
#15: Are you seriously going to take that as a point? Black women are already portrayed as being nothing more than a body to gawk at and oversexualized on a daily basis. How about we leave her body out of the mix and talk about her as a human being?
Sexist comments will never be given the same weight as racist ones. No matter what level a woman rises to, there will be more then a handful of men that see her as nothing more then a body.
…But I learned something today, if someone makes a comment about a part of my body and phrases it in a complimentary manner, even though i may find it offensive, it’s not. thanks everyone.
missnee, considering your position. At last year’s Australian Serena had to be at minimum 10-15 pounds(90% packed in the butt)heavier and wore spandex type garments on the court for practice and the Australian newspapers ate that up. The next day she was on front page with a zoom in butt shot. Worse things were said. Who can forget the catsuit? My point is, they wear it, and people should expect to be mum about it?
Last point, this is not the first time Venus or Serena have worn shorts such as this, more black people are just starting to take notice of them and following them when there are major tournaments. People are going to talk. So if black people want to get offended, they should let Serena and Venus know about it. They wear it, by choice. And it is hot on the courts…so, what they wear can be considered appropriate. They are athletes.