THE BBC were forced to issue a grovelling apology tonight after an American athlete called squirrels ‘spastics’ live on air.
Kori Carter made the embarrassing gaffe on BBC 2 during coverage of the World Championships in the London Stadium.
Viewers were left shocked as the American hurdler said the offensive word live on air to host Gabby Logan.
Logan first said: “I’m intrigued to read about your love of squirrels. Not the kind of most obvious animal. What’s all that about?”
Carter replied: “I see a lot of myself in squirrels. They’re really intelligent but they’re also kind of fun and spastic and a little bit crazy. They’re just really cute and adorable.”
And the BBC have now been forced into a grovelling apology over the on-air gaffe.
Logan said: “In our interview with Kori Carter, you may have heard she used a word that may have caused offence to our British audience.
“Our American colleagues have told us that it’s a word that’s used in America commonly to describe excitement, over-exuberance and enthusiasm, and that of course is the context that she was using it but we do apologise if it caused offence.”
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But viewers who heard it at the time were left outraged, with one ranting: “Can’t believe #bbcathletics haven’t apologised for Kori Carter’s use of the word ‘spastic’ on live TV.”
Another said: “Please don’t use the word Spastic as an adjective as you just did on BBC, u r like a squirrel… Dumb.”
However, others were less bothered, with one observing: “What potentially offensive word did Kori Carter use? I didn’t spot it.”
Another added: “If you’re one of the idiots that complained about Kori Carter then you are an embarrassment.”
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