Chris Gayle walks out of media conference

The “World Boss” faced a lot of flak for his casual remarks during yesterday’s BBL match. Chris Gayle has told a media conference that his remarks toward female journalist Mel McLaughlin during Monday night’s Big Bash League game were “just a joke” that had been taken out of proportion, but walked off when told the interview had made her uncomfortable.

Speaking at Melbourne airport, Gayle said his comments, in which he asked McLaughlin for a drink and said “don’t blush, baby”, were a “simple joke” and were “not meant to be disrespectful”.

Gayle has been slapped with a fine of $10,000 for the incident and his club, the Melbourne Renegades, has formally apologised to McLaughlin.

On being told that McLaughlin was upset about the incident, Gayle said at the airport: “There wasn’t anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel. If she felt that way, I’m really sorry for that. There wasn’t any harm meant in that particular way, to harm any particular person in any particular way like that. It was a simple joke. The game was going on. Entertainment, things get out of proportion but these things happen. It wasn’t any harm done and like I said, I will leave it at that. I’m sorry for that. We have to move on, simple.” He said he had not spoken to McLaughlin.

“I tried to reach out to her last night but it didn’t happen,” Gayle said. Asked whether McLaughlin should have been made to feel uncomfortable in her workplace, Gayle said: “Did she tell you she was uncomfortable?” before terminating the media conference.

Did you see Chris Gayle ask Mel McLaughlin for a drink?
Watch: Chris Gayle flirts with BBL anchor Mel McLaughlin