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Bills columnist and Niagara-area reporter Jerry Sullivan made grossly sexist comments toward female football fans on a live podcast Monday night.
Sullivan was appearing on Trainwreck Tonight episode 273, which is about Buffalo-based sports, when he made the disparaging comments, stating that women are the “worst” fans.
The veteran Bills reporter abruptly interrupted hosts Zach Sheldon and Alex Shupe, aka Degenerate Al and Maniac, who were discussing a critical comment by a woman on the live broadcast, yelling, “Women be better than this.”
Bills columnist Jerry Sullivan (center) made extremely sexist comments on a live podcast
Sullivan then continued, adding, “The worst fans really are the women. They don’t understand critical journalism. They’re all wannabe cheerleaders.
She then appeared to try to back down, as she stated that it was a “dangerous avenue to criticize women in general”.
He added that “women were generally better than men” but doubled down on his belief that “as fans, they don’t get it.”
The hosts did not appear to support Sullivan’s claims, but they also did not appear to call him out on his comments.
Sullivan stated that “the worst fans are really the women” as they are “wannabe cheerleaders”. Pictured is a Buffalo Bills fan at an NFL game earlier this month.
Instead, they moved quickly to emphasize that the main takeaway from the outburst was that “women in general were better than men.”
Sullivan has since issued an apology for making the misogynistic and insensitive comments.
On Twitter, she posted: “I would like to apologize for comments I made on a podcast last night that were unnecessary and insulting to women.” It should be better than that.
Since his comments went viral, the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal and the Niagara Gazette, for whom Sullivan is a contributing columnist, have parted ways with him.
The two outlets shared identical statements saying: ‘In light of comments made by contributing columnist Jerry Sullivan on a podcast Monday, the Lockport Union Sun & Journal and Niagara Gazette have made the decision to part ways with Sullivan.
Sullivan has since issued an apology for making the misogynistic and insensitive comments.
The Lockport Union-Sun & Journal and the Niagara Gazette have parted ways with him.
‘We do not condone misogynistic, insensitive or derogatory comments in any form.
“GNN Sports will remain committed to providing readers with quality, fair and accurate stories.”
Trainwreck Sports also insisted that it does not approve of Sullivan or the comments.
He shared a statement on Twitter that read: ‘Last night on Trainwreck Tonight 273 a guest made comments. Our team does not endorse them, comments or sentiment in any way, shape or form.
“Empowering women doesn’t come down to making statements like this, it comes down to standing up for them when they’re wronged, and last night they did. Our community is great because of everyone who encompasses it.’
Trainwreck Sports also issued a statement, insisting that it does not condone the comments.
The full broadcast of the show, complete with Sullivan’s commentary, remained on the Trainwreck Sports Twitter account throughout Tuesday morning, but appeared to be removed after the statement was posted.
The clip of Sullivan’s comments went viral on social media and the columnist faced backlash not only from fans but from fellow reporters as well.
Syracuse.com’s Matt Parrino tweeted: ‘Some of the most thought-provoking interactions I’ve had on this topic have been with female Bills fans. I am thankful for all of you. My daughter admires my wife, who is as critical of this team as any fan. What Jerry said was wrong, indefensible, and hurtful. Women belong.
WGRZ sportscaster Julianne Pelusi slammed Sullivan when she tweeted: “As much as I’d like to add more commentary about the Bills supposedly bringing back Cole Beasley, I’m just a cheerleader and don’t understand critical journalism!”
Meanwhile, Bills Mafia Babes founder Kristen Kimmick wrote: “Good morning everyone except Jerry Sullivan.”
The columnist faced backlash not only from fans but also from his fellow reporters.
WPXI reporter Jenna Harner did not address Sullivan directly, instead choosing to support women journalists and sports fans.
She wrote: ‘To all the amazing, talented, smart-as-hell women in sports in Buffalo – keep kicking** and taking names, and working hard (as you do on a daily basis). You are all some of the most amazing journalists/media members I have ever met.
One Buffalo fan tweeted: “Imagine the utter horror on Jerry Sullivan’s face when someone finally tells him we understand hockey too.”
WPXI reporter Jenna Harner chose to support women journalists and sports fans on Twitter
The Circulating the Wagons podcast wrote: ‘I’m a Bills fan BECAUSE OF MY MOTHER. She’s not just a cheerleader. Sometimes she is the harshest critic of her. F**k Jerry Sullivan and his weakness for criticism from the opposite sex.
Before Sullivan issued an apology, PR News reporter Nicole Schuman claimed that he had taken too long to respond.
She tweeted: ‘From a crisis/reputation standpoint, Jerry Sullivan needs to respond and fast. He has already waited too long. In addition to the response, he should follow up with actions, like a donation to @girlswritenow or @womenjournos or just setting up a Twitter live here with women.’
Some fans criticized Sheldon and Shupe for not ‘shutting down’ Sullivan and his comments.
Some fans even criticized Sheldon and Shupe for not ‘shutting down’ Sullivan and his comments.
“Just watched the Jerry Sullivan video clip,” wrote one social media user. “Awful take…and the Trainwreck brothers needed to call their BS and it seemed they didn’t.”
Another added: ‘The hosts of his show should have shut down Jerry Sullivan’s stupid comments immediately. That didn’t happen. That’s the problem. You can’t undo that with a Twitter post.”