Racist comment caught on Texas high school football broadcast; Hawley, Anthony respond
Officials from two Texas independent school districts released statements Friday after a racist comment hurled toward one team was captured on the broadcast of Thursday’s high school playoff football game between the two schools.
Hawley defeated Anthony 63-18 in the bi-district round of the UIL 2A-D1 playoffs, but the Bearcats’ victory has been overshadowed by a racist comment caught on a hot mic that targeted the Wildcats players.
With Hawley leading 57-6 during halftime, a voice can be heard on the microphone making racist remarks toward the Anthony players.
“They’re not very big," the unidentified voice said. "I thought they were going to have some pretty decent size, chalupa-eating bastards, but they’re pretty small honestly."
The racist comment was clipped from the broadcast and shared to social media, where it quickly went viral.
It is unclear who can be heard in the video, but in a statement from Hawley officials they claim it was a spectator sitting near the press box of the neutral-site game.
“Our local announcers were not involved in the incident. We do not even have announcers that were recording in association with that camera link,” the Hawley ISD statement reads. “The inappropriate comments were made by a spectator near the press box...I am certain that it was not our local announcers. They did not even have connection during halftime. Several individuals who were listening to that broadcast have confirmed that it was not stated by Bearcats announcers, and that our broadcast feed was dead during halftime. We do not, IN ANY WAY, condone the behavior, and if we identify that individual as a Hawley staff or student, it will be handled immediately. If the individual is a Hawley fan, we will address that as well. It is heartbreaking that any individual can make such derogatory comments, especially directed at student athletes on either side.”
Anthony ISD responded with a statement of its own later on Friday.
“Anthony ISD expresses profound displeasure regarding the ignorant, stereotypical and condescending comments heard through an unattended hot mic during the Anthony vs. Hawley playoff game on Thursday in Wink, Texas. Hawley ISD has offered a prompt apology and assured Anthony that the comments did not come from their staff, but rather from an unknown individual. The regrettable remarks are a disheartening reality of the enduring presence of prejudice that can occur anywhere at any time. The belief that these expressions were articulated by an adult toward teenagers only magnifies the gravity of the situation. No adult should tear down a student/athlete in this despicable manner.”
The full statement can be read below.
Following its win over Anthony in the bi-district round, Hawley is set to take on Panhandle next week in the area round.
-- Zach Shugan | @sblivetx
