It's been over a year since Thom Brennaman was caught using an offensive anti-gay slur on the air during an MLB broadcast, but one quick look on social media will let you know that people haven't forgotten about the moment. Whether it was the comment itself, or the subsequent apology, or the now-famous "a drive into deep left field by Castellanos" meme, it doesn't seem like the whole incident will fade from the public eye for quite some time.
And while Brennaman claims to have been able to "just let it go" in reference to criticism of his oft-cited on-air apology, he explained that he feels as though people should accept it as sincere.
"I created the situation and I'm the one that's got to live with it - don't feel bad about it for me," Brennaman said on the "If You Don't Like That With Grant Napear" podcast (as transcribed by Dave Clark of The Cincinnati Enquirer). "But yes, when you're going through in that moment in time and you're live on television. There is a game going on which you're also trying to announce - because that's why you're there. And all of these things are going through your mind including, you know, there's a real good chance that after you apologize, you know you might never work in that baseball world, the NFL world, the basketball world - whatever it might be. You might never have a chance to do something that you only know now to do for 35 years.
"And so, you know, I'm apologizing and it's heartfelt, it's sincere, I meant it. And then, you know, one of the Reds' players, Nick Castellanos, hits a home run. I call the home run in the middle of the apology. Now that's blown up into this whole thing that's taken on an entire life of its own. I've never met Nick Castellanos' wife. But, you know, she came out and has made the point, you know, 'Enough. You know, enough. This guy lost his career during that home run.' And she doesn't owe me anything. I mean, she might think that I'm the worst guy in the world - I have no idea.
"But, you know, it was just when people criticize what I said, that's fine, I get it. But for people to criticize a sincere apology when everything that was going on in my quote-unquote world at that point in time - it was the best I could do. And once you hear people, Grant, start criticizing your apology? That's when you know that there is a lot wrong with a lot of people. Not just me - and I've got a lot wrong with me. There is a lot wrong in this world."
Brennaman added more on that later, saying that though he wants the world to start to change in that respect, he's not optimistic that this will be the case.
"...When do you finally say, 'enough is enough?' And I keep getting told by people all the time, 'well, you know what, it's starting to turn. This wokeness and this cancel culture and everything, it's starting to turn,'" Brennaman said. "Anybody who believes that, they're living under a rock. It's not changing. I wish it was.
"And I think most of the people in this world, most of them — those in the LGBTQ community that I've gotten to know over the past year that have made my life a better from getting to know them, and I would've never gotten to know them for what I said — they're even tired of it. And I just hope for everybody's sake that some of this stuff can finally just say, one person out there, can finally just say enough. Please."
Interestingly enough, Brennaman explained another perspective of having used the slur on-air and having dealt with the repercussions — he has come to view the incident as a positive moment in some ways.
"I've always said - I've said to my wife since Day 1. I've said, 'You know what, at the end of the day, this is gonna be the best thing that ever happened to us. Because somebody's gonna come along, give us a chance.' You're gonna be far more appreciative," Brennaman said. "I took a lot of this stuff for granted, Grant. You know, I really did for a long, long time. And I know God's got a plan. And I'm gonna be a in a better place. I'm already in a better place as a man, as a dad, as a husband - all those things. And I'll be a better announcer for somebody if I get a chance."
Following the incident, Brennaman wrote a long apology for The Cincinnati Enquirer. He eventually landed a gig with Chatterbox Sports in July of 2021, referencing his Nick Castellanos call in the introductory video of his new role. He also hosts a podcast and has featured numerous guests, including Bob Costas, who he says has been as supportive as anyone as he has attempted to make a career comeback.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram