• Loading stock data...
Sunday, June 1, 2025

NBC Sports California Fires Glen Kuiper After On-Air Racial Slur

  • Kuiper had been in his 20th season calling Oakland A’s baseball games
  • He had been off the air since May 5 after he said a racial slur during an A’s broadcast
A's broadcaster Glen Kuiper has been fired after being suspended since May 6
Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

NBC Sports California has parted ways with Oakland Athletics play-by-play announcer Glen Kuiper about three weeks after he was taken off the air for saying a racial slur during a broadcast.

“Following an internal review, the decision has been made for NBC Sports California to end its relationship with Glen Kuiper, effective immediately,” the regional sports network said Monday in a statement. “We thank Glen for his dedication to Bay Area baseball over the years.”

Kuiper, 60, had been in his 20th season calling A’s games. During a broadcast on May 5, when the A’s were playing the Kansas City Royals, Kuiper said a racial slur after describing his visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. It is possible Kuiper intended to say “Negro” but mispronounced the word as a racial slur. 

“A little earlier in the show, I said something that didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to,” Kuiper said during an on-air apology on May 5. “And I just wanted to apologize if it sounded different than I meant it to be said. And like I said, I just wanted to apologize for that.”

“I could not be more sorry and horrified by what I said. I hope you will accept my sincerest apologies,” he said one day after the incident.

Following that broadcast, the A’s called Kuiper’s language “unacceptable,” and NBC Sports California suspended him from the network amid an internal review of the incident. 

Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro League Baseball Museum, released a statement on May 6 following Kuiper’s visit to the museum and subsequent on-air slur. 

“I’m aware of the unfortunate slur made by Glen Kuiper. I welcomed Glen to the NLBM yesterday and know how he was genuinely excited to be here,” said Kendrick. “The word is painful and has no place in our society. And while I don’t pretend to know Glen’s heart, I do know that my heart is one of forgiveness. I hope all of you will find it in yourselves to do the same!”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBC Eyes MLB Rights, Looks to Own Sunday Nights Year-Round

The league continues to shop media rights being forfeited by ESPN.

Super Bowl, NBA, Olympics Drive NBC Toward Billion-Dollar February

NBC touts its historic confluence of NFL, NBA, and Olympic content.

After Getting Sixers to Stay, Comcast Putting Its Own Name on Arena

Comcast will spotlight its mobile business at the South Philadelphia venue.

Featured Today

PSG and the City of Paris Can Join European Soccer’s Elite

What a maiden Champions League title would mean for the French club.
May 30, 2025

How the Champions League Anthem Took on a Life of Its Own

The composer didn’t know he wrote a timeless hit three decades ago.
May 25, 2025

How Rolex Paved the Way for Luxury’s Love Affair With Tennis

“It’s almost impossible to think about tennis without thinking about Rolex.”
Mar 23, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) reacts after winning a point against Madison Keys (USA)(not pictured) on day six of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
May 24, 2025

Alex Eala Is Defying Her Country’s Odds to Make French Open History

The Philippines native has overcome a unique set of financial odds.
May 30, 2025

Panthers-Oilers Rematch Could Be Big in Canada. Will U.S. Ratings Dip?

Likely viewership declines in the U.S. are countered by robust Canadian audiences.
May 30, 2025

French Open Scheduling Sparks Backlash Over Women’s Time Slots

Coco Gauff has also said the French Open schedule could be improved.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 7 of Portfolio Players, go inside the boardroom with Avenue Capital CEO and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on Giannis’s future, women’s sports, and upstart leagues like TGL and Unrivaled. 
May 28, 2025

NBA East Finals Delivers Strong TV Ratings, but West Is Struggling

The Pacers and Thunder are both up 3–1 in their conference finals series.
Around the Horn
May 23, 2025

Behind the Scenes of Around the Horn’s Final Days

FOS followed Tony Reali at the penultimate taping of the ESPN icon.
Around the Horn - October 26, 2020
May 23, 2025

‘Quirky, Nutty, Bombastic’: 10 ‘Around the Horn’ Faces on Their Top Moments

“A quirky, nutty, bombastic, mostly wrong, sometimes right, crazy sports family.”
May 21, 2025

Paige Bueckers’s WNBA Debut Delivers 121% Ratings Bump on Ion

Friday’s doubleheader averaged 612,000 viewers.