Current Events > Mikaela Shiffrin done with media after NBC's controversial Olympics coverage

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://nypost.com/2022/02/10/mikaela-shiffrin-done-with-media-at-2022-olympics-amid-struggles/

Mikaela Shiffrin will forgo interviews after the US alpine skier grabbed headlines over her second straight disqualification at the 2022 Olympics. Fans took issue specifically with NBC, which aired close coverage of the six-time World Champion in tears on Wednesday, after an unexpected early exit in the first run of the slalom race. On Thursday, Shiffrin issued a statement through a US Olympic spokesperson, per Reuters, that read: Mikaela [nor her mother/coach Eileen] will not be doing any media for the foreseeable future. Thank you for respecting her/their space right now. Shiffrin reportedly fielded questions from reporters for 45 minutes after her elimination in the slalom when she skidded out of control and missed a gate just seconds into the event. NBC aired an interview with Shiffrin immediately after, showing footage of her looking somber while sitting in the snow alongside her skis.

While fighting back tears, Shiffrin said her performance makes [her] second-guess the last 15 years Just processing a lot for sure, and I feel really bad. During the broadcast, NBC commentators spoke at length about Shiffrins struggles in her specialty race on Wednesday and noted her first disqualification two days prior in the giant slalom race, in which she was the defending gold medalist. Shiffrin did not finish the giant slalom race after she crashed 11 seconds into the opening run on Monday. Twitter critics came down on the network for focusing on Shiffrin in the devastating moment, as well as NBC commentators for a number of remarks about the 26-year-old. One broadcaster called Shiffrins performance one of the biggest shockers in alpine skiing history. The same commentator later said, When you think of past disappointments in past Olympics in any sports, this is just hard to believe. Its going to be way up there on the list of Olympics disappointments that you could ever imagine. Another added, That will play in slow motion for ages to come in her mind, and called Shiffrins slip-up almost a rookie mistake. On Wednesday night, NBC executive producer Molly Solomon told The Associated Press that she had no regrets over airing the footage of Shiffrin. We have an obligation in that moment, as the broadcaster of the Olympic games, to cover the moment, Solomon said. Theres no script when theres a wipeout on the slopes or a fall in figure skating. Were watching real people with real emotions in real time and we did everything we were supposed to do.

I just wish NBC could talk about her once without playing their 5 minute fluff piece about her losing her dad.

"When you think of past disappointments in past Olympics in any sports, this is just hard to believe. Its going to be way up there on the list of Olympics disappointments that you could ever imagine."

Y'know, when someone like this publicly calls you one of the biggest failures in the history of ALL sports, I think you'd have a tough time just shrugging it off.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Backlash is from the phrasing as well as coverage/interview questions. These tweets probably give a tl:dr if you havent been following their coverage of her.

https://twitter.com/Camilla_33/status/1491238343551905793

https://twitter.com/OksanaMasters/status/1491414819656077313

https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/1491257625660772352

Sports is literally drama. I don't think it is in poor taste to show their performance and how it impacted them. If they were like, grilling her on being a loser and TRYING to get a reaction sure... but that is not the case at all.

I also don't think athletes need to give interviews so I don't think anyonr is in the wrong here.

Edit - I didn't read the further context. Fuck people being dicks for interviews.

Who?

Sounds like a fair response. She's an athlete, not a red carpet media show pony.

Good for her

Fuck the media

HylianFox posted...

Who?

https://twitter.com/Weesesports/status/1490504616487829505

Dont blame her.

MrKapowski posted...

Good for her

Fuck the media

This. It should be good for her mental health.

Media is so fucked up. She is crying after losing again and they keep cutting to her. Instead of showing the other athletes run. I kinda wish I had other options that didnt focus on Americans so much.

The media is a whore

NBC's coverage actively makes you dumber for listening to it. If an athlete from Georgia (the country) comes up, they'll start talking about Atlanta. If an athlete is especially good, you bet your ass the Tom Brady comparison is coming. And here's your regularly scheduled aside about China's authoritarianism or Putin's warmongering.

Eh, fair

Meh, people let their country down every day, and often in significantly more detrimental ways than losing a sports competition. Everyone can get over it