Network makes decision on Chip Caray after mistaken on-air slur

FanDuel Sports Network has issued a quick decision on Chip Caray amid his very unfortunate moment during Saturday’s game.

The veteran play-by-play broadcaster Caray will not be suspended or otherwise punished “for now” after accidentally using an anti-gay slur in the middle of Saturday’s contest between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds, Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports reports. FanDuel Sports Network is chalking up the regrettable moment by Caray to an “honest mistake” and believes that Caray “meant no insult to any viewers,” McCarthy adds.

During the fourth inning of the game between St. Louis and Cincinnati at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo., Caray was reading an on-air promo for the Cardinals’ Disability Pride Night during an upcoming game in July. Caray attempted to say “disability pride flag” (in reference to the design of the free cap giveaway for that night) but accidentally uttered the homophobic slur instead.

Though Caray immediately corrected himself, the moment quickly circulated online. Making matters even more awkward was that over 30 seconds of silence then ensued on the FanDuel Sports Network broadcast following Caray’s misspeak (video here).

Caray, who is the son of Skip Caray and the grandson of Harry Caray, has been doing MLB play-by-play work for over three decades now. He became the Cardinals’ play-by-play man for FanDuel Sports Network in 2023.

St. Louis went on to win Saturday’s game against Cincinnati by a final score of 6-5. Caray finished out his call of the game without any further mention of the fourth-inning incident.

The gaffe by Caray did indeed appear to be a legitimate slip of the tongue. But that did not stop fans from drawing comparisons to fellow announcers Thom Brennaman (who was fired from Cincinnati Reds coverage in 2020 for using the same slur) and Glen Kuiper (who was fired from Athletics coverage in 2023 over a similar misspeak).