 |
| Kelly Tilghman |
Golf Channel sports analyst
Kelly Tilghman has been suspended for two weeks for making a 'racist' remark about champion golfer
Tiger Woods during a broadcast. During the broadcast, she suggested that other golfers should "lynch him in a back alley" if they wanted to defeat Woods. Tilghman publicly apologized for the remark, but still faces the possibility of losing her job at the Golf Channel.
During last Friday's telecast of the PGA Tour's opening event, while talking to fellow commentator
Nick Faldo, Tilghman suggested laughingly that in order to have a shot at the title today's young players should "lynch" star player Tiger Woods "in a back alley.”
The remark quickly caused a media frenzy, with some labeling the comment as 'racist' and demanding Tilghman be fired. Black civil rights activist Reverend
Al Sharpton was among those who called for Tilghman to be dismissed, saying her comment was an "insult to all blacks."
Tilghman and the Golf Channel issued a public apology in a statement to
New York Newsday, saying: “I used some poorly chosen words. I have known Tiger for 12 years and I have apologized directly to him. I also apologize to our viewers who may have been offended by my comments."
A representative for the Golf channel stated, "We regret the unfortunate choice of words that Kelly used during the broadcast and apologize to anyone who was offended by her remarks. We take this matter very seriously. She has apologized privately to Tiger and publicly on the air."
As for Tiger himself, he issued a statement through his agent saying simply, "We know unequivocally that there was no ill intent in her comments" and said he and Tilghman are friends.
On Thursday it was announced Tilghman would be suspended for two weeks over the incident while her future with the Golf Channel is deliberated, according to the
Daily Mail.
A spokesman for the Golf Channel said in a statement to the press: "While we believe that Kelly's choice of words was inadvertent and that she did not intend them in an offensive manner, the words were hurtful and grossly inappropriate… Consequently, we have decided to suspend Kelly for two weeks, effective immediately."
In the 10 years since Woods rose to No. 1 in the world, he has amassed an unprecedented winning streak taking home 61 championships on the PGA Tour and adding 13 major titles to his resume.
A former college golfer at Duke University, Tilghman made history herself last year when it was announced she would be the first female lead announcer on the Golf Channel. She has gained quite a following during her tenure, but the incident last week could be costly to her future as a sports commentator.
