BBC Radio: May Punish Broadcaster for Sexist Comment

John Inverdale

The BBC faced growing pressure yesterday to punish high-profile sports announcer John Inverdale for his sexist comment about the appearance of France's Marion Bartoli, who won the women's Wimbledon title a day earlier. Before Bartoli's win over Germany's Sabine Lisicki.

Inverdale asked radio listeners if people thought Bartoli's father told her when she was little that she was never going to be, quote, "a looker" like Maria Sharapova, so she'd have to fight harder for success.

The BBC apologized after there were furious protests on Twitter, calling the remark "insensitive." 

Marion Bartoli

Inverdale said on Sunday that he'd written to apologize to Bartoli and told listeners ahead of the men's final that he used what he described as a "clumsy phrase" in trying to make a point that not all players need to be, quote, "six-foot-tall Amazonian athletes."

Many are saying that's not enough, however, and want there to be some punishment of Inverdale by the BBC.

Bartoli herself shrugged off the remarks, telling reporters late Saturday, "It doesn't matter, honestly. I am not blonde, yes. That is a fact. Have I dreamt about having a model contract? No. I'm sorry. But have I dreamed about winning Wimbledon? Absolutely, yes."