Journalist Sparks Outrage After Open-Mic Insult Toward Aryna Sabalenka
A beIN Sports journalist sparked outrage after being caught on an open microphone making derogatory remarks about Aryna Sabalenka during the WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
A major controversy has erupted in the tennis world after French journalist Mathieu Soulié of beIN Sports made a derogatory remark about Aryna Sabalenka while leaving his microphone open during a live broadcast at the WTA Finals tournament in Indian Wells.
The Incident During the Broadcast
The incident occurred prior to Sabalenka's match against Karolína Muchová, as the French network broadcasted a promotional video featuring the 28-year-old tennis star posing in civilian clothes, wearing a red leather jacket and a crop top. As she blew a kiss to the camera, Soulié was heard saying, "Look, look, look, she looks awful." The comment was clearly transmitted to viewers at home.
The clip spread rapidly across social media platforms, sparking intense outrage. Viewers labeled the remarks disgraceful and tagged senior beIN Sports executives, alongside filing formal complaints with Arcom, the French regulatory authority for audiovisual communication.
Official Apology and Repercussions
Florent Houzot, a senior executive at beIN Sports, quickly issued a public apology, stating: "I deeply regret and condemn in the strongest terms the remarks made on live television during our WTA Finals coverage. These comments do not reflect the values of beIN Sports. I reiterate our commitment to respectful treatment toward all athletes and participants in our broadcasts."
Despite the apology, the scandal continues to generate heavy fallout in France. According to Puremédias, it remains unclear whether Soulié, who also holds editorial responsibilities in tennis coverage, will face suspension or disciplinary action. The journalist has not yet issued a public statement, and Sabalenka has chosen not to comment on the incident.
Sabalenka's Focus on Court and Prior Open-Mic Scandals
Sabalenka did not let the external noise affect her performance on the court. She opened her tournament campaign with a straight-set victory over Muchová, winning 7-6, 7-5 to continue her pursuit of the title.
Ironically, this marks the second open-microphone incident within a matter of days at the tournament. Last week, Jessica Pegula was caught on a hot mic during a practice session criticizing 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva and her coach, Conchita Martínez, calling the Russian player a diva. The WTA subsequently took full responsibility for failing to inform players that practice court microphones were active, removing the audio and muting future practice broadcasts. Andreeva later confirmed that Pegula personally apologized and that the matter has been fully resolved between them.
