Chris Gayle has issued an apology for making a pass at Channel 10's reporter Mel McLaughlin while being interviewed by her on air.
Upon being asked by her about his batting, he had replied “I wanted to come and have an interview with you as well. That’s the reason why I’m here, just to see your eyes for the first time. It’s nice so. Hopefully we can win this game and have a drink after. Don’t blush, baby.”
Anthony Everard, head of the Big Bash League called Gayle's actions "disrespectful and simply inappropriate. There's just no place in the BBL, or for that matter cricket anywhere, for that sort of behavior."
Even the Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry wasn't prepared to ignore it. He said "We'll certainly be talking to him in association with Cricket Australia about it. The Melbourne Renegades is all about its appeal to kids, families and females.
His actions were condemned and his apology is also under fire. Speaking to the press, Gayle said “A lot of things have occurred from a simple comment, a joke, a simple joke. It seems it went out of proportion.”
Gayle added “There wasn’t anything at all meant to be disrespectful to Mel. Be quiet and let me finish. There wasn’t anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel and if she felt that way, I’m really sorry for that."
Gayle has been fined by his Big Bash league team, The Renegades.
“There wasn’t any harm meant in that particular way. It was a simple joke, the game was going on, entertainment, these things get out of proportion, these things happen. There wasn’t any harm done. I’ll leave it at that, I’m sorry for that, and we’ll just have to move on, simple.”
After addressing the press he walked away in a huff. Cricket legend Ian Chappell felt that Gayle was dismissive of the incident. He said "I think the arrogant approach at the end to that last question. If he's not suspended then I don't think they're serious about it."
Gayle’s actions were also condemned by James Sutherland, Cricket Australia chief, who said at a news conference. "Those comments are completely out of line. It's not a nightclub — it's actually a workplace, it's Chris Gayle's workplace and it's Mel McLaughlin's workplace and those comments border on harassment and are inappropriate for cricket and inappropriate for the workplace."
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