ESPN anchor apologizes after mocking indigenous NHL participant’s identify: ‘Great identify should you’re a bathroom paper’

ESPN anchor John Anderson issued an apology Tuesday after mocking the identify of Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud, an indigenous NHL participant, whereas on air Monday night time. 

Anderson, who has been with the community since 1999, made the comment whereas discussing highlights from the Golden Knights’ 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their second-round sequence within the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Zach Whitecloud of the Vegas Golden Knights, heart, celebrates after his second interval objective towards the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the second spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs at Rogers Place May 8, 2023, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  (Andy Devlin/NHLI by way of Getty Images)

“What sort of identify is Whitecloud? Great identify should you’re a bathroom paper,” Anderson stated in a video of Whitecloud scoring a objective within the second interval. 

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The comment was met with harsh backlash on-line, prompting Anderson’s apology. 

“This is completely on me, and I sincerely apologize to Zach, the Golden Knights, their followers and everybody else for what I stated,” he stated in an announcement, by way of Awful Announcing. 

Zach Whitecloud of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, proper, celebrates the primary of three Golden Knights targets within the second interval towards the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the second spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  (Lawrence Scott/Getty Images)

“It’s my job to be ready and know the backgrounds of the gamers, and I blew it. I might be reaching out to the staff to personally apologize and hope to have the chance to talk to Zach as effectively.”

According to NHL.com, Whitecloud is the primary indigenous NHL participant from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. 

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud shoots and scores towards the Detroit Red Wings through the second interval of a sport Nov. 18, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Joe Buglewicz)

Whitecloud addressed the controversy in a press convention Tuesday, in keeping with SinBin.Vegas, and stated he spoke with Anderson and accepted his apology. 

“I do not need to be standing right here in entrance of all of you, however I hope we will use it a possibility for everybody to be taught,” Whitecloud stated.