Source: Zach Whitecloud / Instagram,
By Kierstin Williams, APTN
Longtime ESPN anchor John Anderson says he’s sorry after an on-air joke mocking Las Vegas Golden Knights defensemen Zach Whitecloud’s name on SportsCenter Monday night.
Anderson, an anchor with ESPN since 1999, received backlash on social media after an insensitive comment while providing a play-by-play of the Golden Knights – Oilers game.
“What kind of name is Whitecloud? Great name if you’re a toilet paper,” Anderson said before Whitecloud netted his first goal of the playoffs.
Whitecloud, 26, is the first NHL player from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, a First Nation community of around 2,500 people near Brandon, Man. His goal gave the Golden Knights a 3-1 lead in the second period, helping the team earn a 5-1 win in Game 3 and take the lead in the Western Conference second-round series.
“This is totally on me and I sincerely apologize to Zach, the Golden Knights, their fans and everyone else for what I said,” Anderson says in an online statement. “It’s my job to be prepared and know the backgrounds of the players and I blew it.
“I will be reaching out to the team to personally apologize and hope to have the opportunity to speak to Zack as well.”
@cbcnews This Manitoba NHL player says he accepts the apology of a U.S. sportscaster who made a derogatory joke about his surname after a Stanley Cup playoff game Monday night. Zach Whitecloud, 26, scored his first goal of the playoffs to help his Vegas Golden Knights team win 5-1 over the Edmonton Oilers. When the highlight of the goal was replayed on ESPN's SportsCenter show, host John Anderson asked what type of name Whitecloud was, referring to it as a name for toilet paper. Commenters on social media denounced the quip as a slur that disrespected Whitecloud's background as a member of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, located about 50 kilometres west of Brandon, Man. Anderson later apologized, according to Whitecloud. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick said she was disheartened Whitecloud had to endure such inappropriate commentary, and called on ESPN and the NHL to do more to address racism within the sport. Video credit: Vegas Golden Knights/Twitter #NHL #ZachWhitecloud #ESPN ♬ original sound - CBC News
In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, an emotional Whitecloud responded to Anderson’s comment.
“People make mistakes, this is a scenario where not just John but everyone can learn from and move forward in a positive direction,” said Whitecloud. “I’m proud of my culture, I’m proud of where I come from, where I was raised, and who I was raised by.
“I carry my grandfather’s last name and nothing makes me more proud to be able to do that.”
ESPN has yet to issue a statement.