ESPN football analyst Robert Griffin III apologized after making a racist remark during a broadcast.
While commenting on the performance of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on “Monday Night Countdown,” Griffin said, “People said that Jalen Hurts couldn’t get it done, he could not break from the pocket, he’s not the quarterback of the future.”
He added, “I think he proved all those jigaboos wrong.”
Watch the moment below:
RGIII pushing the boundaries of analysis you can get on TV pic.twitter.com/2JsxHG0p8B
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) December 13, 2022
Griffin’s remark shocked users on Twitter.
One user wrote, “Man even using the clues in the caption to anticipate something wild, I was still unprepared for what it was.”
man even using the clues in the caption to anticipate something wild, I was still unprepared for what it was https://t.co/AzDbBSqcnN
— Hanif Abdurraqib (@NifMuhammad) December 13, 2022
Philip Lewis, senior front page editor for the Huffington Post, tweeted, “Nothing could have prepared me for the last sentence in this video.”
Nothing could have prepared me for the last sentence in this video https://t.co/5ALXSoYiD7
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 13, 2022
Journalist O.J. Spivey commented, “I really want to like the dude but …”
I really want to like the dude but… https://t.co/PmFozr8bhX
— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) December 13, 2022
Some found the moment comical.
I swear I can’t stand bruh 😂 https://t.co/c14Pj29QtU
— Daren Bates (@DB_5trey) December 13, 2022
Griffin issued an apology for the remark.
“Yooooo, Definitely need to clarify this. THIS IS NOT WHAT I MEANT TO SAY. Was trying to say ‘those Bug-A-Boos’ in reference to haters and doubters. Regardless of my intention, I understand the historical context of the term that came out of my mouth and I apologize,” he tweeted.
Yooooo, Definitely need to clarify this. THIS IS NOT WHAT I MEANT TO SAY. Was trying to say “those Bug-A-Boos” in reference to haters and doubters. Regardless of my intention, I understand the historical context of the term that came out of my mouth and I apologize. https://t.co/Dy4vVuigin pic.twitter.com/DL0lqcz0jK
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 13, 2022
The term “jigaboo” is defined by Merriam-Webster as a word used as an “insulting and contemptuous term for a black person.”
Griffin is not the only broadcaster to make headlines this year with a jarring remark.
Former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman received criticism after making a comment during a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders in October, as IJR reported.
While commenting on a roughing the passer call, Aikman said, “My hope is the competition committee looks at this in the next set of meetings and, you know, we take the dresses off.”