TV cameraman under fire for 'inappropriate' shot during women's basketball match
An ESPN cameraman has come in for heavy criticism during Sunday's women's college basketball game between NC State and Notre Dame.
An ESPN cameraman has come under fire for capturing a "inappropriate" moment during the women's college basketball game between Notre Dame and NC State. Despite the No. 1 Fighting Irish's impressive 19-game winning streak being snapped by their No. 13 rivals with a 104-95 defeat, it was a different event that stole the spotlight as the match entered overtime.
Play was suspended when medics rushed to aid a fan following a medical incident in the stands at Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, North Carolina, causing over ten minutes of delay with scant details initially provided. Yet, ESPN's cameras lingered on the scene, granting viewers at home an unfiltered look at the incident.
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The fan was subsequently taken to a hospital. The spectator was responsive and in stable condition according to an NC State spokesperson, but some have criticised ESPN for showing the medical response, arguing it invaded privacy and respect for the individual involved.
One viewer expressed indignation on X (formerly Twitter), saying: "I'm sorry @espn but if a fan is having a serious medical emergency in the stands maybe lets not put a camera on the medical staff attending to them?".
One outraged viewer criticised ESPN's coverage, saying: "ESPN should not have a camera on the medical crew attending to the fan. Why was the fan being carried out in a stretcher broadcast nationally?"
Whilst covering the game, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe and commentators Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo acknowledged a medical emergency in the arena, though they couldn't offer further details about the individual in need at that time. With little information available about the fan's condition, concern and buzz grew online, with many rallying together for the individual.
Lobo explained: "The Notre Dame players were just alerted to the serious nature of it and it looked like they were saying a prayer with one another. Who cares about overtime? Both of these teams do, but there's some stuff going on up there."
