'What's for tea?' BBC's Chris Boardman moves to clarify 'sexist' comment about Olympic gold medalist Laura Trott
BBC Sports commentator Chris Boardman has come under fire from viewers for a seemingly “sexist” comment he made about Rio 2016 gold medal winner Laura Trott.
BBC commentator Boardman has been crticised for his comments about Trott / BBC
Trott, now Britain’s most successful female Olympic athlete of all-time, joined her partner and fellow cyclist Jason Kenny in the Rio Velodrome yesterday after he too scooped gold at the Games.
As the couple celebrated their success Boardman could be heard saying in the background: “‘She’s [Trott] doing all the emotion for him – he’s [Kenny] looking at her wondering what’s for tea!”
Viewers took to Twitter and Facebook to express their dismay at the perceived “casual sexism,” questioning why the Boardman had implied that Trott would be making Kenny’s dinner for him
Laura Trott wins 4 gold medals and her fiancé still looks at her and asks 'what's for dinner?' According to Chris Boardman #EverydaySexism
— Patrick Lyle (@paddylyle) August 16, 2016
According to the #bbcrio2016 commentator, Jason Kenny is looking at Laura Trott & thinking "What's for tea?" Sexism isn't dead #Rio2016
— Monica Lee (@MonicaBLee) August 16, 2016
Casual sexism from the BBC. Yes on the day Jason Kenny and Laura Trott make their joint gold medal tally 10, he's asking her what's for tea.
— Carrie (@CarriesNotOkay) August 16, 2016
Laura Trott has just won her 4th gold medal and already she's regulated to cooking tea! Nice bit of casual sexism there!
— Victoria Jayne (@vickkijayne) August 16, 2016
Come on @BBCSport! "what's for tea?" Sadly women athletes still face so much #sexism. She has four gold medals! #noexcuse #LauraTrott
— Nic Gratton (@nicstaffs) August 16, 2016
Boardman was quick to clarify what he meant by the comments, taking to Twitter shortly after the incident to say his off the cuff remarks had "nothing to do with gender."
His partner, Sally Boardman, also expressed support for him.
Just to clarify, "what's for tea?" is often I question asks me! It's nothing to do with gender!!
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) August 16, 2016
@salihughes As his wife, I can tell you he never asks me to make tea, It's like saying what's on TV?
— Sally Boardman (@Sally_Boardman) August 16, 2016
This is not the first time a BBC presenter covering Rio has been accused of sexism. John Inverdale, who has had a series of blunders throughout the Games, was corrected earlier this week by Andy Murray after telling the tennis ace he was the "first person ever" to win two Olympic gold medals in the sport.
“I think Venus and Serena [Williams] have won about four each,” corrected Murray.
The BBC branded the comment as a "simple error," and has said it will stand by the host.