The #NBCFail hole just keeps getting deeper and deeper.
As Americans of all races, colors, and creeds buzzed with excitement about gold medal-winning U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas’s amazing poise, artistry, and athleticism in the all-around competition on Thursday night, veteran NBC sports anchor Bob Costas rambled on about the 16-year-old athlete’s … race. She’s the fourth American woman and the first African-American gymnast to capture the title.
Some social media observers had choice words for Costas and his clumsy injection of social and political commentary:
And Bob Costas, I think ALL girls can and will be inspired by Gabby Douglas' victory- not just the black girls.
— Darius de Haas (@ImDariusdeHaas) August 3, 2012
@flc GABBY DOUGLAS IS *BLACK*!? THANKS, BOB COSTAS!
— Tara (@BravesDiva) August 3, 2012
Thank you, Bob Costas, for celebrating how much of a "non-issue" it is that Gabby Douglas is black by making it an issue.
— Stephen Falk (@stephenfalk) August 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/BananaEsq/status/231236144443039744
Bob Costas you did NOT just go there. I'm not even black and I idolize Gabby Douglas.
— Caroline (@0ReillyAutopart) August 3, 2012
NBC's Bob Costas says, "Little white girls, get your own Olympian to admire. Gabby Douglas is JUST for the little black girls."
— Lefty Bollocks (@LeftyBollocks) August 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/JoeTalkShow/status/231249273566670848
@JoeTalkShow I thought the same thing. I got what he meant but it was like, "Okay, you're trying too hard…"
— Cocoa Popps (@CocoaPopps) August 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/JoeTalkShow/status/231253292624265217
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And … let’s pile on more #NBCFail. Whose brilliant idea was it to run an ad featuring a monkey gymnast right after the Douglas triumph?
NBC ran a promo for one of their shows featuring a monkey doing gymnastics, right after they interviewed Gabby Douglas. #NBCfail
— B-Mamafa (@LisiateW1) August 3, 2012
Worst. Segue. Ever. NBC goes from Costas talking about Gabby Douglas straight to a monkey doing gymnastics… http://t.co/Psv5uvHp
— CurrentFuturePhillies (@reclinergm) August 3, 2012
Like Costas, some viewers did get a bit carried away with racial hypersensitivity. When Costas referred to Douglas using her well-publicized childhood nickname — the “Flying Squirrel” — many uninformed Twitter users went ballistic:
Speaking of inane: "gabby Douglas is the flying squirrel" really, bob costas?!? #olympics
— Andrea D. Krausse (@AndyDawnK) August 3, 2012
Watching the Olympics and Bob Costas called Gabby Douglas a flying squirrel.THAT'S JUST WRONG!!!! SMH
— Aamari Adause (@A1Adause) August 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/FreeChildhood/status/231203539815374849
https://twitter.com/ColitoGigante/status/231203784880181249
Did Bob Costas just give gabby douglas the name "the flying squirrel" or is that already a thing? Im confused.
— SPDR (@WammuelRussell) August 3, 2012
Bob Costas just referred to Gabby Douglas as the “Flying Squirrel”. Not sure what to make of that.
— DÆVID ?⚡️?☀️??? (@D_Love) August 3, 2012
It's really her nickname. RT @godsAMAZINgrace Bob Costas is a fucking white PIG for calling Gabby Douglas a "Flying Squirrel".
— •Nnenna• (@Live_Beautiful) August 3, 2012
Color us unsurprised by Costas’s sanctimony or by some of the P.C. silliness that greeted Douglas’s victory.
We prefer this viewer’s take:
Gabby Douglas makes me really proud to be a vertically-challenged American.
— D'Arcy Maine (@darcymaine_espn) August 2, 2012