Channel 7 Olympic commentator slammed over “racist” comment
<p>Channel Seven’s coverage of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics has been no stranger to criticism, but viewers are particularly outraged with a “racist” comment made by one of its commentators, former Australian Olympic freestyle skier Jacqui Cooper.</p>
<p>While covering the first stages of the women’s aeriels, Cooper made some questionable comments about the Chinese skiers.</p>
<p>“Very Chinese,” she said of Yan Ting’s first jump. “They all look the same, they’re very hard to tell who’s who.”</p>
<p>Many viewers took to social media to slam Cooper’s comments as “racist”.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">I’ve always wanted to be there to witness a live, tv moment you know is going to be on the news tomorrow. Thanks Jacqui Cooper <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Channel7</a> for the casual racism toward Chinese athletes - “it’s hard to tell them apart, they all look the same” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PyongChang2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PyongChang2018</a></p>
— Alan White (@AlanOWhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlanOWhite/status/964102207070134274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">Did Jacqui Cooper really just say that?</p>
— Anthony Sharwood (@antsharwood) <a href="https://twitter.com/antsharwood/status/964101085622190080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">Jacqui Cooper with the casual racism whilst commentating on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7Olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7Olympics</a> 'they all look the same' in regards to Chinese <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aerials?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aerials</a> athletes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PyeongChang2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PyeongChang2018</a></p>
— Chris Henderson (@chrishendersonv) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrishendersonv/status/964101180564561920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">Jacqui cooper, I love you. But saying that the Chinese aerial skiers "look the same" is kinda racist. <a href="https://twitter.com/7olympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7Olympics</a> isn't doing well at all. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7Olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7Olympics</a></p>
— Len Webster (@lennwebster) <a href="https://twitter.com/lennwebster/status/964102419956117504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
<p>Following the backlash, Channel Seven issued a statement explaining that Cooper’s comments had been taken out of context.</p>
<p>“During tonight’s cover of the women’s aerials, commentator Jacqui Cooper – a former Olympian and World Champion – noted that an aerial manoeuvre was in a technical and style sense, very Chinese,” the statement read.</p>
<p>“Meaning that the whole of the Chinese aerial team are trained in the same way – and the manoeuvre referenced was a classic technically perfect, trademark of that team’s style.</p>
<p>“At no time was the commentary racist, intended to be racist or offensive.”</p>
<p>Late last night, Cooper herself addressed the criticism on Twitter.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">Just finished the Aerials, I’ve noticed a whole bunch of comments about my remarks re the Chinese. I need to make it clear I was talking about the jump. The Chinese are trained by one coach with one technique, their aim is all to jump the same. <br />Bring on the final tomorrow night.</p>
— Jacqui Cooper (@JacquiCooperSKI) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacquiCooperSKI/status/964121795271057409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
<p>Others have jumped to her defence, with one Twitter user writing, “She obviously meant jumping style.”</p>
<p>Another said people were only accusing Cooper “because rather than check what she actually said in the right context, it’s easier to jump to conclusions.”</p>
<p>Tell us in the comments below, what did you make of Cooper’s gaffe?</p>
<p><em>Image credit: Jacqui Cooper/Instagram.</em></p>
