Scott Sapulpa is suing Gannett and two of its journalists after being wrongfully identified as the Oklahoma radio announcer who used a racial slur during a girl’s high school basketball game, according to Awful Announcing.
Back in March, BSM reported on the incident in which Matt Rowan was the announcer who didn’t realize his microphone was live when he directed a racial slur at the Norman High School girls’ basketball team, which was kneeling for the “Star Spangled Banner” before a playoff game.
When The Oklahoman initially reported the story they used Sapulpa’s name instead of Rowan’s and many other outlets then used that story as the basis for their own reports, per Awful Announcing.
Rowan eventually identified himself as the man who made the statement and The Oklahoman amended its report. The reporter who wrote the story, Cameron Jourdan, also put out a tweet updating his reporting and admitting to the error.
Despite the correction, Awful Announcing reported that “Sapulpa filed suit in Oklahoma district court on Thursday against Gannett (which publishes The Oklahoman), The Oklahoman and USA Today; reporter Cameron Jourdan; reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel; high school announcer Matt Rowan; NFHS Network LLC; and CBS Sports Inc.”
Sapulpa is seeking “compensation for damages for defamation, negligence, gross negligence, malicious wrong,” amongst other claims.
