Kate Abdo, Jamie Carragher and the rest of the CBS Sports squad were gobsmacked by the backlash after the former Liverpool star’s quip about the host’s personal life fell flat.
Known for its jovial back-and-forth, CBS Sports’ Champions League team, featuring Abdo alongside pundits like Carragher, Micah Richards, and Thierry Henry, usually keeps things light. But Carragher crossed a line during one broadcast this year.
In an attempt at jest, Carragher called into question Abdo’s faithfulness to her now-spouse Malik Scott, which turned out to be a joke that didn’t resonate with viewers or colleagues, earning him flak from every direction.
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Pete Radovich, CBS Sports’ Champions League coordinating producer, admitted that the incident led to some necessary behind-the-scenes talks but was taken aback by the intensity of the public’s reaction. He remained confident, though, that their on-air chemistry wouldn’t suffer in the long run.
“The first thing to say is everyone was surprised at the reaction that night; myself, Kate and Jamie included, because it was just banter gone wrong amongst friends, between a brother and sister.
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(Image: CBS)
“That night, when it started to snowball, we had discussions,” stated Radovich in an interview with The Athletic, reports the Mirror. “It wasn’t alarms or questioning if we were going to be able to repair this. He misspoke. He felt bad. Kate wasn’t crazy about it, but none of it was like, ‘This could be the end’.”
“The biggest reaction was surprise at how much play it got. So, there was never a moment in all of that time where I was like, ‘Wow, I don’t know if we can bounce back from this’. Not even for a split second because I knew internally we were all cool.”
“It’s not for me to speak for Kate, but I can only speak to the conversations I had with Kate. She conveyed to me that she wasn’t crazy about the comment, but at the same time, we can get over this.”
(Image: Getty Images)
“This group has been together for three and a half years. I grew up with a brother and I feel like I have gained three more here.
“Let me introduce you to the group again; Thierry Henry; the golden child, can do no wrong, always says the right thing, sets the example to the rest of us. He is the big brother we all look up to.”
“Then there is the middle child; Jamie Carragher, a chip on his shoulder, capable of saying anything for attention. Does he go too far sometimes? Absolutely. Does he apologise? Yes, he does.
“But all of us have that one annoying family member that we still love. Then there’s little bro; loud but loveable, Micah Richards, easy to pick on, impossible not to love.”