Sports commentator fired after lecherous, misogynistic comments sues for anti-straight discrimination. Yes, really
Jeremy Roenick (Streeter Lecka/Getty)
Sports commentator Jeremy Roenick, who was let go by NBC Sports after making inappropriate comments about a female colleague, is now claiming he was fired because he is straight.
The retired hockey player was suspended by NBC Sports after he made derogatory comments about his co-worker Kathryn Tappen on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast in December last year.
Speaking on the podcast, Roenick fantasised about having a threesome with Tappen and his wife.
“I’m swimming with my wife and Kathryn, and they’ve got their bikinis on, and they look f**kin’ smokin’,” he said.
“A*s and boobs everywhere. It’s great.”
NBC later confirmed (in February) he would not be returning to the network. Now, Roenick has filed a lawsuit with the New York Supreme Court where he accused the network of violating laws that prevent discrimination based on sexuality or gender, according to Variety.
The lawsuit reportedly draws attention to a promotional video made by NBC figure skating commentators Tara Lipinksi and the Johnny Weir, who is openly gay, in which they suggested that they were having an affair.
Roenick’s lawsuit claims that the video was only considered allowable because Weir is openly gay, stating that Roenick mentioned the video to his supervisor Sam Flood when he was dismissed over his comments on the podcast, the outlet says.
Flood allegedly then told Roenick that Weir “is gay and can say whatever”.
Jeremy Roenick also claims he was fired because of his open support for Donald Trump.
The lawsuit claims NBC Sports terminated Roenick’s contract without good cause and without giving him the opportunity to correct his actions.
As if that wasn’t enough, the former sports commentator also reportedly suggests that he was fired because of his open support for Donald Trump in 2016.
In the lawsuit, Roenick alleged that he asked Flood for permission to speak at the Republican National Convention in 2016.
Flood allegedly told him: “I’m not saying what you can do. You know who you work for. You work for NBC. That would not look good on your NBC record.”
