Forbes StaffThe BBC host used the wrong pronouns for a “non-binary” US athlete shot putter Raven Saunders.
Paris Olympics 2024 saw a gender row, where the BBC host used the wrong pronouns for a non-binary US athlete, shot putter Raven Saunders, who competed during the women’s shot put qualification at the 2024 Summer Olympics in France. A BBC host was corrected live on air when he repeatedly used the wrong pronouns to welcome American shot putter Saunders.
BBC Olympics commentators use the wrong pronouns for a non-binary US athlete.
Steve Backley, BBC Olympics commentator, repeatedly used wrong pronouns and misgendered Raven Saunders as “her” during the coverage of Thursday’s women’s shot put qualifying in the Stade de France, Paris, as per a report on Deadline. He said, “The colorful character of Raven Saunders back. Good to see her back, sort of. Sort of see her, I mean,” Backley said, while referring to Saunders’s mask which covered most of their face. However, co-host Jazmin Sawyers corrected Backley live on air for misgendering the American non-binary athlete. Sawyers said, “Well, we can’t see them very well. Raven Saunders is actually non-binary and wearing the mask there, we’re quite used to seeing them with interesting attire.”
A section of the internet reacts to the gender row.
The moment went viral on social media, and a section of the internet also responded, sparking a massive debate. Some questioned why a non-binary athlete was competing in a women’s sport. A post read, “More gender madness at the Olympics in the women’s shot put… If they’re not a woman, why are they in the women’s competition?” another user wrote, “I’m ok with them identifying as non-binary and competing as a woman, as long as they are genetically a woman.”
Raven Saunders, 28, identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns “They/Them.”
