The announcer who used racial slurs during a livestream of an Oklahoma girls’ high school basketball game has apologized and blamed the incident on his blood sugar levels.
Matt Rowan, the owner and operator of the streaming service OSPN, told The Oklahoman he was the person who made the racially insensitive remarks.
“I will state that I suffer Type 1 Diabetes, and during the game my sugar was spiking,” Rowan said in a statement. “While not excusing my remarks, it is not unusual when my sugar spikes that I become disoriented and often say things that are not appropriate as well as hurtful. I do not believe that I would have made such horrible statements absent my sugar spiking.”
The incident occurred Thursday before the Norman High School-Midwest City quarterfinal game in Sapulpa as “The Star-Spangled Banner” began to play. The broadcasters told their listeners on the NFHS Network stream that they would return after a break. Then Rowan, apparently not realizing the audio was still live, used an expletive and the epithet as the Norman players kneeled.
“F— them, I hope they lose,” Rowan said. “They’re going to kneel like that? Hell no.”
“F—— n——,” he later says toward the end of the anthem.
Footage capturing the remarks during the online broadcast of the game on the NFHS Network was shared Friday morning on Twitter.
“We apologize for and are sickened by the comments made last night at the start of our broadcast of the OSSAA girls’ basketball game between Norman High School and Midwest City High School,” the NFHS Network said. “The thoughts expressed in no way represent our network, and we are outraged that they found their way into the production. We are aggressively investigating the incident and have immediately cut ties with the third-party production crew that was involved.
“The NFHS Network firmly condemns racism, hate and discrimination,” the organization said. “We also deeply apologize to the students, their families and the entire community for having such ignorant and hurtful comments expressed during the broadcast.”
The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association also condemned the comments and said it was investigating.
Norman High School Superintendent Nick Migliorino said the school district supports the students’ right to freely express themselves.
“We condemn and will not tolerate the disgusting words and attitudes of these announcers,” Migliorino said. “We will do everything in our power to support and uplift our team and everyone affected by this incident.”
Migliorino said the OSSAA hired the announcers and the district would use another livestream service for the remainder of the state tournament.
State public schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister also released a statement, saying the comments cannot be tolerated.
“The remarks made were sickening and vile,” Hofmeister said. “My heart aches for the young female athletes who were subjected to this hateful and disgusting tirade.”
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