ESPN announcer Matt Vasgersian mocks bachelorette parties at baseball games, and people aren't happy
At a St. Louis Cardinals-Chicago Cubs game Thursday night at Wrigley Field that kicked off the second half of the baseball season, the ESPN cameras focused on a group of women (and men) celebrating a bachelorette party.
That didn’t make ESPN announcer Matt Vasgersian happy for some reason, and he actually said: “Is there anything more obnoxious than the bachelorette party at the ballpark, by the way? I mean, ‘Congratulations, by the way. Yeah, we’re all very happy for you.’”
This clip shows the bride (a Cardinals fan) and the groom (a Cubs fan) both smiling and enjoying themselves at the game, their respective team jerseys emblazoned with “Bride” and “Groom” across the back.
Vasgersian’s colleague Jessica Mendoza responded, “Why is that obnoxious?”
“It’s such a ‘look at me’ thing. You’re sitting behind like the bridal party,” he said. “Ehh. ‘Oh my God, I’m getting married…’”
“Wow. That’s kinda harsh. I’d do a bachelorette party at a ballpark,” Mendoza replied. “That’s where I’d probably be. I’d take that over the alternative.”
Vasgersian said, “Which is what? Vegas?”
“Yes,” Mendoza replied.
Apparently, Vasgersian is unaware that in the year 2018 women are baseball fans, and sometimes they like to spend their money going to ballgames with their friends. He also seemed to miss that the groom — and probably some of his friends — were there as well.
Twitter was unamused by his comments.
SportsBusiness Journal reporter John Ourand summed up the comments simply.
“Is there anything more obnoxious than a bachelorette party at the ballpark?” — ESPN announcer Matt Vasgersian during the Cards-Cubs game.
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) July 20, 2018
People called on Disney and ESPN to suspend Vasgersian the way they suspended Sports Center host Jemele Hill.
.@espn @WaltDisneyCo You should have a problem with your employee having a problem with women celebrating each other at a baseball game. If you can suspend Hill, you can #suspend this guy. REPEAT THIS: Women are sports fans. We buy tickets. We watch the games. We know the rules.
— Rachel (@argica11) July 20, 2018
One wrote a thread explaining why Vasgersian’s comments were so tone-deaf and gross.
I really shouldn’t have to explain this but here it is: the thing is he’d never say that about a bachelor party. He literally said that women in a group at a baseball game were like “look at me, look at me!” Most women go to games because they love baseball.
— Sarah Weinstein (@slwein) July 20, 2018
and to say the platform doesn’t matter exposes your me privilege, my dude. he’s on a national broadcast and he negatively singled out certain fans because they’re different than his view of what baseball fans look like. that’s not ok.
— Sarah Weinstein (@slwein) July 20, 2018
Some didn’t care for the way he discounted Mendoza’s comments.
even worse than unchecked, his female co-announcer *tried* to call him out on it and he just completely ignored her and talked right over her. I’m still so mad about this!
— Sarah Beth (@bookgirlsb) July 20, 2018
Another hard-core baseball fan detailed the history of her fandom and asked ESPN to stop telling women how to watch sports.
I dreamt of being @Tigers bat-girl back when it was boys only. I cried when the strike was over my birthday game. I *just* got home from a @MudHens game! @espn don’t tell women of any age how to watch sports, we won’t tell you how bad your announcers are.
— Khaleesi (@aishlingmara) July 20, 2018
ESPN had no comment on this story when we contacted them.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Tiffany Trump Is Celebrating Even Though the President Didn’t Acknowledge Pride Month
Laverne Cox’s beautiful bikini photo made a fan ‘feel like a toe.’ Then the actress responded.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
