She has apologised live on air.
Cricket commentator Isa Guha has apologised for a comment in which she referred to Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as a “primate.”
The broadcaster made the comment during India’s third Test against Australia which she was reporting on for Fox Sports in Brisbane.
Her comments sparked backlash on social media and forced the former England cricketer to apologise live on air on Monday.
Bumrah got India off to a stunning start with two quick wickets. Guha’s co-commentators Brett Lee and Allan Border began a discussion about the bowler’s impact in the side.
Lee said: “Bumrah, today: five overs, 2-4. So, that’s the tone, and that’s what you want from the ex-skipper.”
Guha replied: “Well, he’s the MVP, isn’t he? [The] most valuable primate, Jasprit Bumrah. He is the one that’s going to do all the talking for India, and why so much focus was on him in the build-up to this Test match, and whether he would be fit.”
Viewers took to social media to complain about her comments given the word’s history as a racial slur.
Guha apologised saying: “Yesterday in commentary I used a word that can be interpreted in a number of different ways… I’d like to apologise for any offence caused.
“I set myself really high standards when it comes to empathy and respect for others and if you listen to the full transcript, I only meant the highest praise for one of India’s greatest players and someone that I admire greatly as well.”
Former India coach and fellow Fox Sports commentator Ravi Shastri praised her for her apology saying it took ‘courage’ and urged India to move on.
He said: “People are entitled to make mistakes. We are all human. To own up and say, ‘I’m sorry’… it takes courage.”
Bumrah took his sixth wicket of the innings on Monday, continuing his great form.
