Thom Brennaman is taking full advantage of his second chance behind the microphone. Since his return from exile, a writer for a popular LGBTQ+ sports website has commended his work. Brennaman famously resigned as the Cincinnati Reds TV play-by-play voice in 2020 after using a homophobic slur on air. In an ironic twist, he apologized for the slur, only to be interrupted by a Nick Castellanos home run, which he called in a monotone voice before resuming his apology. This moment became a popular meme.
Fast forward four years, and Brennaman is back as the play-by-play announcer for ACC college football games on The CW, expressing that he is “overwhelmed with gratitude.” Cyd Zeigler, a writer for Outsports.com, which prides itself on being “your home for all things LGBTQ+ sports,” praised him for his attitude since returning. “Brennaman’s otherwise strong professional legacy will forever include one ugly chapter, the incident in 2020 during a Cincinnati Reds game when he uttered an anti-gay slur,” Zeigler wrote. “It was a thoughtless remark that—according to one of his gay childhood friends—did not reflect his true feelings about gay men.”
“Countless LGBTQ individuals in the Cincinnati area have praised him as a sincere man reborn. In my many conversations with Brennaman, he has come across as genuinely remorseful. Yet some have warned that, if given a second chance, he might let a slur slip again, as if the man who witnessed his career collapse and spent extensive time understanding the struggles of gay people could go down that path again.” Brennaman has truly excelled in his new role with The CW, even humorously referencing his past apology when introducing Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos (not related to MLB star Nick) before a game this season.
“We’ll also see Thomas Castellanos. How ’bout that?” – Thom Brennamanpic.twitter.com/Nxvp9Bdw5y
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 9, 2024
Zeigler expressed his happiness to see Brennaman receive another opportunity, stating, “If Brennaman never receives a chance from one of the major sports broadcasters, The CW gig is already more than he anticipated two years ago. While I’d love to see him back on Fox Sports, ESPN, NBC Sports, or CBS Sports, witnessing his resurgence from the ashes of that fateful day serves as a reminder that second chances can be valuable, and Brennaman deserves the one he’s been given.”
