CINCINNATI – Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman used an anti-gay slur on air during Cincinnati's game Wednesday night and later left the broadcast after apologizing.
He used the slur moments after the Fox Sports Ohio feed returned from a commercial break before the top of the seventh inning in the first game of a doubleheader at Kansas City. Brennaman — working remotely from Cincinnati — did not seem to realize he was already on air.
Brennaman, 56, remained on air in the second game until the top of the fifth inning, when he spoke directly to the camera before handing off play-by-play duties.
"I made a comment earlier tonight that I guess went out over the air that I am deeply ashamed of," he said. "If I have hurt anyone out there, I can't tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart, I am very, very sorry."
Brennaman added: "I don't know if I'm going to be putting on this headset again" and apologized to the Reds, Fox Sports and his coworkers.
The son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, Thom has called major league games for 33 years and has been with Fox Sports for the past 27.
"I can't begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am," Brennaman said. "That is not who I am and never has been."
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