Social media exploded in condemnation Thursday after NFL reporter James Palmer outed fellow reporter Ian Rapoport for making a joke about “surviving a Russian prison” on the same day WNBA star Brittney Griner’s 9-year prison sentence was announced in Russia.
The incident occurred during Thursday’s broadcast of the NFL Network’s Inside Training Camp when reporter James Palmer revealed something that fellow broadcaster Ian Rapoport said off the air.
When correspondent Andrew Siciliano asked Rapoport if he was OK, Palmer interjected with what many are calling an inappropriate comment.
“Listen, if Ian thinks he can survive in a Russian prison, which apparently he believes, a tackle from Nathaniel Hackett is the least of his problems,” Palmer said.
To that, Rapoport sheepishly replied, “That was not really for air, but sure.”
WATCH:
In light of Brittney Griner being sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison this was tacky, inappropriate and insensitive by @nflnetwork @JamesPalmerTV @RapSheet @AndrewSiciliano pic.twitter.com/y8q2JMQre2
— Doc Holliday (@The_DocHolliday) August 4, 2022
Clearly Palmer thought the off-air comment was hilarious, even as Rapoprt seemed to realize that it should never have been said over the air. Siciliano seemed a bit taken aback by Palmer’s revelation.
But mild reactions were not seen on Twitter, for sure. The whole crew were widely condemned for the comment that seemed to be poking fun at Brittney Griner’s fate.
Nasty but unfortunately not surprising https://t.co/gzkrXL4l7N
— T (@westcoastwashed) August 4, 2022
I know we all have that ONE guy we know that does this shit when in larger groups.
But to do this on television? A fight would have to ensue. https://t.co/5hePGU5FJP
— The Short King wit the Short Thing (@KbWholesome) August 4, 2022
“That was not really for air” tells you everything you need to know https://t.co/awtF6P55HJ
— bailey caldwell (@sir_richmond20) August 4, 2022
what a snitch omg lmaohttps://t.co/rABuXzMvd5
— Dellan (@AgentBeverley) August 4, 2022
HOW DO THESE HACKS HAVE THESE JOBS?? WTF! https://t.co/y4wh1n62Kz
— Mr Editor (@SN_Trizzy) August 4, 2022
Everybody has that 1 person they know who can’t shut his mouth and always says the things that shouldn’t be said. Come on Palmer!
— Caned (@MrCaned5150) August 4, 2022
@RapSheet this is disgusting. How absolutely disrespectful. Complete trash people.
— KT (@Big_DaddyDZ) August 4, 2022
Some of the replies to the incident are right in as much as Palmer should have let what was said off the air to remain off the air. But was the joke funny? Was it too soon to be made since Griner’s fate had been learned mere hours before the joke was aired? Or was it a perfectly harmless crack? You tell us in the comments below.
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