"Gabby Douglas' gold medal performance last night was an historic and inspiring achievement," said NBC Universal spokeswoman Liz Fischer. "The spot promoting 'Animal Practice,' which has run three times previously, is one in a series with an Olympic theme which have been scheduled for maximum exposure. Certainly no offense was intended."
YouTube commentator JamesPopeAfterShow says it best: "You know there had to be at least one person at NBC controlling the commercials or whatever, who was like, 'I wonder if we should really play this monkey commercial, SPECIFICALLY after this segment we're doing on Gab- oh, too late.'"
However, compounding the issue with the commercial's placement is the fact that some are not happy with Costas' comment itself prior to the ad airing:
“You know, it’s a happy measure of how far we’ve come that it doesn’t seem all that remarkable, but still it’s noteworthy, Gabby Douglas is, as it happens, the first African-American to win the women’s all-around in gymnastics,” Costas said. “The barriers have long since been down, but sometimes there can be an imaginary barrier, based on how one might see oneself.”
"Much of America has fallen in love with Gabby Douglas," Costas added. "Also safe to say that there are some young African-American girls out there who tonight are saying to themselves, 'Hey, I'd like to try that, too.'"
"Bob Costas just re-affirmed that the success of a black person means we're not racist anymore. THANK GOD THAT'S OVER." tweeted the political writer Ana Marie Cox.
Bob Costas just re-affirmed that the success of a black person means we're not racist anymore. THANK GOD THAT'S OVER.
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) August 3, 2012
Meh. Get over yourself. No problem pointing out the effect Tiger Woods has had, eather real or imagined, on the sport of golf for African Americans. No problem pointing out that Gabby is the first African-American to win the women’s all-around in gymnastics. That's just another accomplishment. Not any racist twinge to it.
Cox later curtailed her sarcasm.
Ok what he said was "a barrier has fallen" or somesuch but one person over the wall does not a fallen barrier make. TAKES NOTHING FROM GABS.
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) August 3, 2012
Why not click the Google +1 & the retweet buttons?
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