BBC warns Chris Hughes for ‘inappropriate’ comments

LONDON: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has issued a warning to cricket presenter Chris Hughes after he made comments deemed “not appropriate” during a pitch-side interview.

According to the media reports, the incident occurred during the BBC’s coverage of The Hundred tournament, where the Southern Brave team was featured.

Hughes, while interviewing Australian all-rounder Maitlan Brown, referred to her as “a little barbie” after Brown shared how the team bonded ahead of the tournament by watching the movie Barbie together.

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The reports said that following the broadcast, Hughes faced criticism on social media, with many viewers and cricket fans considering his remarks to be sexist and inappropriate.

Meanwhile, the BBC acknowledged the controversy and said that they had addressed the matter with Hughes and emphasised that his comment was not suitable for broadcast.

Numerous cricket fans expressed their disappointment with Hughes’ comments and called for an apology from him. Some users on Twitter questioned the BBC’s decision to hire him, citing other talented cricket journalists in the UK who could have been chosen instead.

Chris Hughes rose to prominence as a contestant on reality show Love Island. He has a passion for cricket and prior experience as a presenter for live horse racing coverage on ITV.

Despite strong TV presence, his recent comments during the cricket interview have sparked backlash and raised concerns about the portrayal of female athletes in the media.