Fox Sports over the weekend injected a disgusting racist commentary into the London 2012 Olympic Games by attacking tennis gold-medal winner Serena Williams. Fox News on Friday had attacked gymnastics great Gabby Douglas for her supposed lack of patriotism.
“She was in the city of kings and queens. People were sipping champagne and eating strawberries and cream. And Serena Williams had just ascended to the throne of tennis, becoming the second woman after Steffi Graf to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold in singles,” Fox Sports’ Reid Forgrave wrote, although he claimed he didn’t want to “let her tone of celebration overshadow a stunning performance on this Wimbledon grass that’s been so good to her.”
Then the 30-year-old who will end her career as one of the greatest tennis players of all time did something that could be interpreted two ways: As a stupid and insensitive celebration that dampened the crowning moment, or as a joy-filled nod to her roots.
The woman who grew up in Compton did the Crip Walk.
For the uninitiated, the Crip Walk is a funky little hip-hop dance move made famous by Crip gang members in Compton in the 1970s.
And there was Serena — the tennis legend, the winner of 14 individual Grand Slams, the best player of her generation, the American girl being crowned at the All-England Club as the queen of tennis — Crip-Walking all over the most lily-white place in the world.
…
You couldn’t help but shake your head. It was as if Serena just couldn’t seem to avoid dipping into waters of controversy even as she’d ascended to the top of her sport.
The article appeared all over the Fox network, and noticeably, Fox changed the headline several times.
On Fox Sports it was “SERENA FLUBS CROWNING MOMENT.”
On Fox Nation it was “Serena Does The ‘Crip Walk’,” which was then changed to “Serena Williams Dances in Russian’s Face.”
Of course, many were outraged, and took to Twitter to express their concerns.
[View the story “Fox Sports Injects Racism Into Olympics” on Storify]
Fox Sports Injects Racism Into Olympics
Storified by David Badash · Mon, Aug 06 2012 12:18:15
.@ReidForgrave @FoxSports Serena’s a “crip”…white blond is a “barbie.” Got it! It’s subtle racism like that I can really appreciate.Zachary Sire
@reidforgrave just because Serena Williams showed her blackness on a nat’l stage, you felt it was your place to use whiteness to attack her.New Black Woman
Why does Fox News always need to bring up race @reidforgrave? http://fxn.ws/N6lXZ3stephaniemz
@ReidForgrave Your article was simple to gain a few minutes of fame & feed racist who hate Serena, shame on you!Translation Is
At best You were reaching in that article about Serena, at worst you were being a racist Fox News drain pipe asshole… @reidforgraveRu Black
Let me guess @ReidForgrave. If @serenawilliams had done a waltz or Cotton-eyed Joe, that would have been A-OK, right? http://fxn.ws/PvvllaApril
Shame on you @reidforgrave, for a bigoted report of Serena’s victory. It stinks of racial bias-poor lily white environment stained by color.Angel G
Wow this article by @ReidForgrave has got to be the most ridiculous, racist and pointless of the #Olympics yet. http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/08/04/serena-flubs-crowning-moment/?test=olympJoe Mazza
Wow @reidforgrave of Fox “News” – Racist much on Serena Williams?? When u win Gold, show the right “white” celebration http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/08/04/serena-flubs-crowning-moment/Qasim Rashid
@ReidForgrave your article is disgusting. Serena was simply having fun. Don’t be another racist looking too deep into Serena’s action.Matt Dowell
@ReidForgrave another in the line of racist haters on serena & expected from a tom/n**** like whitlock &anyone else who likes this article.C. Russia Jones
@ReidForgrave = Another racist with a pen and a platform to express your ignorance. What law did Serena break by dancing?Dee
RT @themommytsunami: Shame on you @reidforgrave, for a bigoted report of Serena’s victory. It stinks of racial bias-poor lily white environment stained by color.Chris Stanley
@ReidForgrave Serena is from Compton, & the dance was an celebration b/t Vee & her, not a political statement, as Fox wants it to be. #FAILAlsan Bellard
Whoa @reidforgrave, this is a dumb, dumb article: http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/tennis/story/serena-williams-taints-golden-slam-with-crip-walk-dance-08041. Were you being intentionally racist in the hope it’d up page views?Kristen
@ReidForgrave your article about Serena Crip walking is the dumbest thing I have read in a long time. Thnx for mking USA dumber.G Dubâ„¢
@ReidForgrave nothing wrong w/ serena celebrating HER gold medal win she doesn’t have to stop being herself bc it makes others uncomfortableJackie M.
@reidforgrave you are SO wrong about Serena’s dance being a fault, but you write for fxsprts and they spank it to cntrvrsy, even when fakeShawn Freeman
@reidforgrave why even bring it up? Are you gonna put a fox slant on every celebration? Racist cunt hope Serena sues your assRobert Zabot
Hat-tip: Uggabugga