NBC Denies Calling Olympic Gymnast A Monkey!

Gabrielle Douglas (Gabby) is an Olympic Gold Medalist in gymnastics. She becomes the first African American woman to win a Gold in the sport.

Gabby Douglas is an Olympic Gold Gymnast at the tender age of 16 has become the nation's newest sweetheart. From West Des Moines, Iowa, the young African American gymnastic star has gotten endorsements and name recognition since her victory at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Douglas is the first African-American and first woman of color in Olympic history to become the individual all-around champion, and the first American gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics.

A controversy is brewing with NBC and their coverage of the Olympics. From the tape delays to editing out the five year tragedy of July 7, 2005, the network once again embroiled itself in another controversy.

Mediaite and Redding News Review have covered this controversy.

Someone pointed out that the network has ran a show called Animal Practice, a show about doctors, animals, and the hilarious hijinks they will surely get into on a weekly basis. One of the stars of the show is a little monkey, and as a tie-in for its Olympics coverage, NBC is airing a promo for the show featuring the monkey as a gymnast. Last night, the promo aired right after Bob Costas remarked that gymnast Gabby Douglas winning the gold medal would inspire young African-American girls, and NBC is now apologizing and denying any offense was meant in airing the monkey ad.


NBC was planning on having the gymnastics-themed ad airing right after the gymnastics-heavy segment, according to the Associated Press. The AP deals how the situation unfolded.

“Much of America has fallen in love with Gabby Douglas,” Costas said. “Also safe to say that there are some young African-American girls out there who tonight are saying to themselves, ‘Hey, I’d like to try that, too.’”

Then NBC switched to the commercial with the small, widely grinning monkey on the rings. Blacks in the past have been disparagingly referred to as monkeys to the point where it is considered a common slur.

“Gabby Douglas’ gold medal performance last night was an historic and inspiring achievement,” NBC Universal spokeswoman Liz Fischer said. “The spot promoting ‘Animal Practice,’ which has run three times previously, is one in a series with an Olympic theme, which have been scheduled for maximum exposure.

Certainly no offense was intended.”