Mel Mclaughlin has faced more than one pick up in his career
As Chris Gayle faces a public relation lapse after his “disrespectful and simply inappropriate” comments to the Channel 10 reporter last night. But, social media, who never forget a crisp incident was quick to dig out a January 2014 interview with Trinidadian cricketer Dwayne Bravo. During the live cross, Bravo made a special mention to McLaughlin after receiving his man of the match medal.
The interviewer asked, “you have got a special message for one of our commentators?”
Bravo said,“I just want to say hello to Mel, beautiful Mel, I was lucky enough to meet her once in Sydney. I just want to say hi and I see she’s still looking beautiful.”
The Channel 10 camera man focused on McLaughlin in the studio, who appeared visibly embarrassed.
“That was slightly uncomfortable,” co-presenter Ricky Ponting said.
Mark Howard, the Channel 10 commentator described the confrontation with Gayle as inappropriate and highlighted McLaughlin’s professionalism in the wake of flirtation.
“It must be pointed out that Mel is a wonderful, professional, informed sports broadcaster and a valued member of Network Ten and on reflection, I don’t think that’s appropriate for what’s required in that format,” he said after the awkward interview.
Watch here as Dwayne Bravo says hello to “beautiful” Mel:
“Chris is an entertainer and he’s a joker, but I think he probably went a bit too far there. I hope we don’t see any of it again, and Mel will be back for her next interview, prepared and ready to go as she always is.”
However, it is not just cricketers who have struggled to hide their affection for McLaughlin during live interviews.
The reporter showed her journalistic skills when she received an unexpected kiss from Socceroos star Tim Cahill following a 2012 match.
At the time of the Cahill kiss, McLaughlin was a presenter and sideline reporter with Fox Sports and quickly became a favourite with the fans.
A tongue in cheek blog post penned by SportsBet when the news that McLaughlin was leaving Fox Sports perfectly captured the heartache felt by fans, “Remember the scenes when Kim Jong-il passed away in North Korea? Multiply that by 10. Yep, utter devastation.”
“Remember the scenes when Kim Jong-il passed away in North Korea? Multiply that by 10. Yep, utter devastation.”
During her time with Fox Sports she was covering A-League and was embraced by supporters of the beautiful game.
Mel was such a popular journalist that he was a level of affection for the sideline reporter that Western Sydney Wanderers even sang about her during games.
In 2013, one dedicated fan on the Western Sydney Football website a “
“Mel McLaughlin Appreciation Thread”. Football fans of the Wanderers expressing their love for the journalist.
Tim Cahill’s flying kiss to Mel