OK Livestream: Hot Mic Catches Racist Comments

An Oklahoma online sports commentator is under investigation after he was heard on a live microphone Thursday night directing a racial slur at a girls’ high school basketball team.

The Washington Post reports Norman High girls’ basketball coach Frankie Parks tweeted a clip Friday where the broadcaster from the National Federation of High School Networks can be heard berating players and using a racist slur as they knelt for the playing of the national anthem before a state playoff game.

Hey @NFHSNetwork looks like you forgot to cut the Mic!!! "F****** N******" is the one that really got me!! Tell us how you really feel!! THIS IS WHY THEY KNEEL!!!@Migliorino_Nick @tohara_o @NHS_AthDept @gonormantigers pic.twitter.com/mmWQAecLaF

— Frankie Parks (@CoachFParks) March 12, 2021

The broadcaster, identified by The Frontier as Matt Rowan, owns OSPN, the live-streaming platform that broadcast Thursday’s game.

“I hope Norman gets their ass kicked,” he said before launching into a tirade that involved several profanities and the racist comment.

The broadcaster’s remarks drew condemnation from school officials, Norman mayor Breea Clark (D), and former University of Oklahoma football stars Kenny Stills and Gerald McCoy. Norman High players also received broad support on social media, with some rallying around the Twitter hashtag #ThisIsWhyWeKneel.

The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), the state athletic organization which contracted the announcers through NFHS for the state tournament, said it was “made aware that some very offensive, inappropriate comments were made during the NFHS livestream broadcast” and that it had pulled the broadcast team.

We have been made aware of the racist and hateful remarks made during a broadcast of the OSSAA Quarterfinals last night. We completely condemn these acts and are investigating the matter and the individuals involved.

See our complete statement attached. pic.twitter.com/c0r0YVhvIC

— NFHS Network (@NFHSNetwork) March 12, 2021

The NFHS Network said it is “aggressively investigating the incident and will ensure that any individuals responsible will have no relationship with the NFHS Network moving forward.” In response to questions regarding the identity of the broadcaster who made the comments, it referred The Washington Post to its earlier statement.