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ESPN’s Jenna Laine has apologized for her role in the awkward exchange between Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Giovani Bernard, herself and two other reporters.
A clip of the NFL player went viral after Laine shared it on social media after Sunday’s loss to the Bengals in which Bernard tried to walk out of the locker room without answering reporters’ questions, sparking a tense exchange.
Laine has since apologized for the incident, as well as his initial defense of posting a video of the exchange and his explanation of his actions afterwards.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine apologized for awkward exchange with Tampa Bay’s Giovani Bernard
In her statement posted to Twitter, Laine revealed that she first apologized to Bernard before acknowledging that her actions lacked empathy.
His statement began: “I didn’t want to post anything here until I 1) apologized to Giovani Bernard first, personally telling him I’M SORRY, which I did and 2) until I fully understood the missteps I took after the game on Sunday, since I didn’t want this to be a hollow apology insincere.
“Obviously I gave myself a grace period that Giovani didn’t have when I asked him to speak after the game. He’s a better person than me. For many reasons.
The hardest thing about this has been that in this moment I became what I swore I would never be: devoid of empathy, and that was something that was sorely lacking here. I’ve always wanted nothing more than to humanize the people I cover, that’s literally why I do this, and in that moment, I lost touch.
“I was too caught up trying to get the full story and meet deadlines and on my own ‘stuff’. I did not take into consideration what HE needed from me at that moment. So clearly I have some growth to do.
The reporter posted a statement on Twitter, acknowledging that her actions lacked empathy.
He went on to apologize for his “defensive comments” after the video, saying he acknowledged it seemed “cruel and insensitive”.
“The second misstep: my very defensive comments afterwards,” he added. “My intention was that these athletes would not get to where they are by holding hands, they are some of the toughest people on the planet and responsibility is part of their daily lives.
I realize that it was cruel and insensitive. He was in no way trying to frame her injury against him by pointing it out. I was just reminding him that we couldn’t talk to him earlier because the team doesn’t have any injured players available.
“The most difficult thing about this has been that at this moment I became what I swore I would never be: lacking in empathy, and that was something that was sorely lacking here.
“I’ve always wanted nothing more than to humanize the people I cover, that’s literally why I do this, and in that moment, I lost touch. I was too caught up in trying to get the full story and meet deadlines and my own “stuff.” I did not take into consideration what HE needed from me at that moment. So clearly I have some growth to do.
The locker room incident came after Bernard missed a fake point during the Bucs’ 34-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bernard originally did not want to answer questions about a fake punt attempt that failed
After taking a 17-3 lead going into halftime Sunday, the Bucs suffered five straight turnovers in a nightmarish second half to lose back-to-back games this month after being blown out by the San Francisco 49ers last week (7 -35).
Unfortunately for Bernard, things started to go downhill for Tampa Bay in the third quarter after he missed a fake punt on fourth-and-1 with 13:34 remaining on the clock.
The running back didn’t get a firm grip on the ball and had to go down quickly on the fumble for a two-yard loss at the Tampa Bay 16-yard line. The Bucs held the Bengals within shooting range and still led 17-6 after that mistake. However, Bernard’s error started a string of errors that allowed the Bengals to get back in the game and outscore the Bucs 17-0 in the third quarter to take a 20-17 lead.
Cincinnati would go on to outscore their opponent, 31-6 in the second half.
Bernard’s Sunday didn’t seem to improve after the game as he tried to walk out of the Bucs’ locker room without answering questions from reporters. As he approached, a feeling of tension followed.
The 31-year-old even dared to ask reporters why they wanted to speak to him when they rarely sought his comments this season.
At one point, a reporter can be heard asking, ‘What have you done to get us to talk to you all year?’
Bernard has only appeared in five games for the Bucs this season due to an ankle injury and ESPN’s Jenna Laine could be heard telling the player, ‘You’ve been hurt all year!’
‘Can I go with my family that I have abroad?’ Bernard asked then.
‘You can. Just don’t say we haven’t talked to you all year,” another reporter said in response.
The running back has appeared in five games for the Bucs this season due to an ankle injury.
Moving on from the awkward exchange, Bernard fielded questions but repeatedly provided the same answer over and over again when asked about his fumble on the fake punt attempt.
“Miscommunication, that was it from me,” the former Bengals running back said. I take all the blame for that.
“It was all mine,” he added when asked about his knowledge of the play and whether the team had practiced it before.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles later confirmed that the team did not execute on their idea as planned.
“He missed the ball,” said the 59-year-old. ‘Yes, we needed a yard. we had it. We practiced it all week. We just don’t handle football.
The Bucs are now 6-8 after Sunday’s loss, but are still atop the NFC South despite being under .500. Tampa Bay next plays the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas Day.