March 8, 2017
UK Hockey Announcer Calls Gay Couple on Kiss-Cam 'Disgusting,' Says He was Kidding
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A hockey announcer from the U.K. is coming under fire this week after he was heard calling a gay couple locking lips on the kiss-cam "disgusting" at a recent hockey game, the British newspaper the Star reports.
During a break at match between the Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils, a gay couple appeared on the kiss-cam. After sharing smooch, hockey commentator David Simms was heard saying, "That's disgusting. Security, get rid of them."
Unsurprisingly, a Twitter backlash ensued but Simms says he was just kidding and that his comments were a joke.
He reiterated his stance to The Star, saying, "I am not homophobic...I haven't got a bad bone in my body. If the comments made anyone upset or offended anybody then of course I apologize completely."
"Maybe I live in a different world. I can't really see the offense I have caused," Simms went on to say. "But if people have been offended... people who know me know I don't like to offend. I am truly sorry if I did do that."
"Unfortunately the world has moved on to a place that either I haven't realized it's got to or I am comfortable with," he said.
Officials from the Sheffield Steelers released a statement about the incident, defending Simms.
"The club would like to put on record our sincere apology to any fans or members of the LGBT community who were offended by comments made by David Simms during the game on Saturday 4th March. In no way did Mr. Simms intend what was said in a derogatory or offensive way. David Simms has personally apologized to fans on social media, the club, the EIHL and has been in touch with LGBT direct."
