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MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan 05 2016 – Chris Gayle has apologised for comments made to a female reporter during a live television interview in Australia.
Gayle has described his comments to Network Ten’s Mel McLaughlin as “a simple joke” saying his intention was not to disrespect her.
The flamboyant West Indies cricketer, who plays for Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), has been fined 10,000 dollars by the franchise.
“If she felt that way, I’m really sorry for that. There wasn’t any harm meant in that particular way, to harm any particular person in any particular way like that,” Gayle told reporters at Melbourne Airport after touching down with his team mates.
“It was a simple joke … I don’t know how it reached this far, to be honest. It is one of those things.”
During the interview with McLaughlin after his explosive 41 Gayle said: “Hopefully we can win and go for a drink after. Don’t blush baby.”
His comments have been heavily criticised with the BBL blasting them as “disrespectful and simply inappropriate”.
Gayle said he has been unsuccessful in his efforts to contact McLaughlin to apologise to her.
