Video: Watch Mel McLaughlin accept Chris Gayle's apology
Channel Ten sports reporter, Mel McLaughlin has accepted Chris Gayle's apology and mentioned that she just wanted to move on from the whole incident that caused much furore in the sporting fraternity.
Gayle had made remarks that had clearly made McLaughlin uncomfortable during a post-innings interview on the field after the Melbourne Renegades had smashed 41 off 15 balls.
“I wanted to come and have an interview with you as well. This is the reason why I'm here. Just to see your eyes for the first time. So, hopefully, we can win this game and then we can have a drink after. Don't blush, baby,” Gayle had said to McLaughlin, who did not seem comfortable with the situation.
McLaughlin, in an interview with Channel Ten's The Project, expressed her disappointment with the whole incident, She talked about how good an innings Gayle had played to help the Renegades win and how she would have much rather preferred to talk about that.
“I'm a little bit uncomfortable. I'm not used to being at the centre of any sort of story. This one certainly escalated, but I'm okay,” McLaughlin said.
“I would have much preferred to be talking about that instead,” she said, talking about Gayle's batting performance.
When asked if she talked personally with Gayle after the incident, McLaughlin said that she had not spoken to the player, but had heard his apology at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.
“I accept that. I just want to move on,” she said.
McLaughlin said she never felt like she was a personal target of sexual harassment at work which has been a pressing issue for many women who work in sport.
“There's a certain stigma that people like to talk about with women in sport. I haven't felt that. Yes, it's meant something to a lot of female journos, men as well as women in general. It's certainly snowballed. I love my job and I'd just rather be talking about that,” McLaughlin said.
Although Gayle was not suspended, he was fined $10,000 for the comments he made. The money is supposed to be donated to The McGrath Foundation.
Here is the video of Mel McLaughlin's apology (video courtesy of The Project official Facebook page):
"I just want to move on" Mel Mclaughlin responds to the Chris Gayle interview #TheProjectTV
Posted by The Project on Monday, 4 January 2016