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Tennis Channel Suspends Analyst Jon Wertheim Indefinitely After Comments About Player’s Appearance

tom tapp
·2-min read

Longtime tennis analyst, Tennis Channel commentator and 60 Minutes contributor Jon Wertheim has been suspended indefinitely after comments he made about about the appearance of world No. 10 Barbora Krejcikova were caught on a hot mic as he prepped for an appearance on the channel’s TC Live.

Wertheim explained his side of what happened via a social media post. He also apologized.

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“During a Tennis Channel studio show on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable comments off-air. I acknowledge them. I apologise for them. I reached out immediately and apologised to the player,” he wrote.

“What happened? I joined the show by Zoom. In rehearsal we were shown a graphic of a player who had just competed. It showed her at an angle that exaggerated her forehead.

“A few moments later, I was told to frame up my Zoom. I looked at the low camera angle and joked that it made my forehead resemble the photo of the player in question. Someone in the control room chimed in and I bantered back. Though this was a private rehearsal, this exchange inadvertently, and without context, made it to live air.

“I realize: I am not the victim here. It was neither professional nor charitable nor reflective of the person I strive to be. I am accountable. I own this. I am sorry.”

Krejcikova later lamented that the incident “focused on my appearance rather than my performance,” before continuing.

“As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary.

“These moments distract from the true essence of sport and the dedication all athletes bring to the field. I love tennis deeply, and I want to see it represented in a way that honors the commitment we make to compete at this level.”

The Tennis Channel issued its own statement, calling Wertheim’s language “inappropriate” and announcing that it had “immediately removed him from our air indefinitely.” The channel also apologized to Krejcikova.

Here is that statement in full:

When Tennis Channel became aware of an inappropriate comment about a professional tennis player made by our analyst Jon Wertheim on Friday, we immediately removed him from our air indefinitely. The network also apologized to the player, Barbora Krejcikova, as did Jon. Jon has dedicated his career to shining a light on and growing this sport and has been a valued member of our family and the tennis community. That said, Tennis Channel holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment.

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