NBC play-by-play man Al Michaels made a joke during Sunday Night Football that was in poor taste.
The New York Giants entered Sunday night’s game against the Denver Broncos as the NFL’s most disappointing team at 0-5, and are dealing with a number of injuries (as well as plenty of drama) that include a fractured ankle suffered by superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. last week.
Well, Michaels compared the Giants’ situation to the last week of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and that was a bad idea.
With the Giants leading the Broncos 17-3 in the third quarter, Michaels said, “The Giants are coming off a worse week than Harvey Weinstein, and they’re up by 14 points.”
Comparing the state of an NFL team to a guy that is being accused by dozens of women of sexual assualt and harassment in the entertainment industry understandably drew plenty of reaction on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/4lisaguerrero/status/919753945127505920
Way to make light of a serial sexual assaulter, Al Michaels. Already know NFL doesn't give a shit about women, thanks for cementing it.
— Spillygal (@borken_cookie) October 16, 2017
After the SNF broadcast came back from commercial early in the fourth quarter, Michaels apologized, saying he didn’t mean the Weinstein reference “in that manner”:
And his apology effort didn’t go over much better on Twitter:
Wow that half-hearted apology actually made Al Michaels' joke at the expense of sexual assault survivors even harder to stomach, @SNFonNBC.
— Kerrin Garripoli (@kerripoli) October 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/jnthnwll/status/919759569433321472
https://twitter.com/MyNig/status/919759485312397312
[NBC]