Glen Kuiper releases statement after being fired as A’s broadcaster for on-air slur
On the day he was fired as the Oakland A’s television play-by-play broadcast, Glen Kuiper apologized once again for uttering a racial epithet live on the air while lamenting that his verbal “mistake” cost him his job.
Kuiper was told he was let go on Monday morning by NBC Sports California, more than two weeks after what he called “the unintentional use of an offensive word on the air” as part of the A’s pregame show on May 5.
He had been suspended since May 6, one day after he used an epithet in place of the word “negro” in reference to what he called a “phenomenal” visit along with broadcast partner Dallas Braden to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, where the A’s were visiting the Royals.
Kuiper initially apologized on-air in the sixth inning on May 5, through without a specific reference to what he said. He followed it up with another apology in a statement released through the network in the aftermath of the suspension, as calls for his dismissal grew.
In his statement, Kuiper expressed gratitude to that spoke up on his behalf, specifically mentioning Negro League Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick — who said Monday in a phone interview that he was disappointed to see Kuiper fired — and former A’s pitcher Dave Stewart, who also tweeted support of Kuiper.
The now-former A’s broadcaster also pushed back at the notion that he’s a racist, saying he’s “an honest, caring, kind, honorable, respectful husband and father who would never utter a disparaging word about anybody.”
Kuiper, 60, was in his 20th season as the A’s play-by-play broadcaster and had worked in the San Francisco Bay Area in broadcasting since the late 1980s, when he moved here to study the industry at San Francisco State.
Kuiper is the younger brother of Giants analyst and former big leaguer Duane Kuiper and Giants television producer Jeff Kuiper.
Kuiper’s full statement:
Monday morning I was informed by an NBC executive that after a 20-year broadcasting career with the Oakland Athletics my contract was terminated, effective immediately. The termination was due to the unintentional use of an offensive word on the air during the May 5 pregame show.
On that day, I chose to spend my personal time by educating myself and learning more about MLB’s history by going to the Negro League Museum. I spent nearly three hours there in an effort to better understand and more deeply appreciate the difficulties and social barriers African American players endured in MLB’s early years. When the subject of the museum visit came up in the pregame show, I was excited and eager to share what I had done and seen that day. In my excitement, I rushed through the word “negro” resulting in my very unfortunate mispronunciation. I sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt by this. It was a terrible but honest mispronunciation, and I take full responsibility.
Please know racism is in no way a part of me; it never has been and it never will be. I appreciate the Negro League Museum president Bob Kendrick and Oakland A’s great Dave Stewart’s public support of me in light of this. I am an honest, caring, kind, honorable, respectful husband and father who would never utter a disparaging word about anybody. Those who know me best know this about me.
I wish the Oakland A’s and NBC Sports would have taken into consideration my 20-year career, my solid reputation, integrity and character, but in this current environment traits like integrity and character are no longer considered. I will always have a hard time understanding how one mistake in a 20-year broadcasting career is cause for termination, but I know something better is in my future.
I love the game of baseball and I love being a broadcaster, and I love the Bay Area community. I hope I will be remembered for that.
Thank you to all my family, friends and great A’s fans that have shown their support.
Sincerely, Glen Kuiper