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Chris Gayle says sorry for asking out Australian reporter Cricketer Chris Gayle fined for asking reporter on date in interview
(about 4 hours later)
West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle says he was "joking" when he asked a reporter out on live television. West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has been fined A$10,000 ($7,200; £4,900) for "inappropriate conduct" after he asked a TV reporter on a date in a live interview.
Journalist Mel McLaughlin was reportedly left angry and upset after Gayle abruptly asked her out during an interview in Hobart on Monday night. Gayle was speaking to journalist Mel McLaughlin during a Big Bash League match in Hobart on Monday.
"To see your eyes for the first time is nice. Hopefully we can have a drink afterwards. Don't blush baby," he said."To see your eyes for the first time is nice. Hopefully we can have a drink afterwards. Don't blush baby," he said.
Gayle said the angry public reaction to the comments was "out of proportion", when speaking to press on Tuesday. Gayle has said he is sorry, but that the reaction was "out of proportion".
"There wasn't anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel. If she felt that way, I'm really sorry for that," he said. His team Melbourne Renegades beat the Hobart Hurricanes by five wickets in Monday's T20 game.
"It was a simple joke. The game was going on. Entertainment, things get out of proportion but these things happen. Gayle, who had scored 41 in just 15 balls, was answering questions from Network Ten's McLaughlin about his big-hitting style when he made the remark, which was widely condemned as sexist.
"It wasn't any harm done and like I said, I will leave it at that. I'm sorry for that. We have to move on, simple." The former West Indies Test captain told reporters on Tuesday: "There wasn't anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel. If she felt that way, I'm really sorry for that.
When told about McLaughlin's feelings regarding the exchange, Gayle became agitated and abruptly walked away from the interview. "It was a simple joke. The game was going on. Entertainment, things get out of proportion but these things happen."
McLaughlin has said his date request was "a little bit disappointing because I'm not used to seeing that".
"I don't really want to be the subject of such conversations," she told her network.
'Out of line'
The Melbourne Renegades said his comments were "completely inappropriate and disrespectful" and apologised to McLaughlin and to the public.
"Mel is an outstanding sports presenter," said Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry. "We think of her very highly and the club and players will ensure we work with her in a professional and respectful manner in future."
"We've had several discussions with Chris over the past day and he has acknowledged that his comments were out of line," he said.
The A$10,000 fine will be donated to the McGrath Foundation, a breast cancer charity.
Network Ten Head of Sport David Barham said Gayle would no longer wear an on-field microphone or helmet-cam during live broadcasts.
'Not a nightclub''Not a nightclub'
Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland said Gayle's comments could be equated with workplace harassment.Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland said Gayle's comments could be equated with workplace harassment.
"It's not a nightclub, and I think one of the things that perhaps hasn't dawned on everyone is it's actually a workplace," he said."It's not a nightclub, and I think one of the things that perhaps hasn't dawned on everyone is it's actually a workplace," he said.
"Anyone that sees the humour in that is misunderstanding and somewhat delusional about the situation.""Anyone that sees the humour in that is misunderstanding and somewhat delusional about the situation."
Network Ten Head of Sport David Barham said Gayle would no longer wear an on-field microphone or helmet-cam during live broadcasts.
Fox Sports reporter Neroli Meadows told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Gayle had said similar things to her and several other female reporters.Fox Sports reporter Neroli Meadows told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Gayle had said similar things to her and several other female reporters.
"He does this constantly... He has creepy behaviour and the way he did it to Mel was just that, and Mel knew it was going to happen," she said."He does this constantly... He has creepy behaviour and the way he did it to Mel was just that, and Mel knew it was going to happen," she said.
Meanwhile Chris Rogers, Gayle's former captain at Sydney Thunder, said it was part of "a pattern of behaviour".
"If you know the guy, you see it over and over. It's not just him, there's a lot of this stuff in the sporting industry and to defend it is not right at all."