The PA Announcer Who Called West Alabama's Plus-Sized Dance Team 'the New Face of Ozempic" Has Apologized, So Everything Should Be Fine Now
If you're not familiar with these ladies, they are the Honeybeez of Alabama State University. They work alongside the school's Mighty Marching Hornets band, and have been bringing pep and school spirit to Hornets games for 21 glorious season, and have received unanimous crowd support for the infectious energy they bring.
Well, to be perfectly honest, almost unanimous. No one can please everybody. Not even the young women who volunteer their time and effort and dedicate themselves to bringing joy to their fellow ASU students. Which led to this moment after the Honeybeez performance against Florida A&M:
And we have an explanation, an update, and an apology:
The Tallahassee Democrat - While the future of Florida A&M University’s longtime Marching 100 band announcer Joe Bullard remains unclear, a recent insensitive remark of his − which has made national headlines − is drawing both backlash and defenders of the Rattler legend.
And after the social media firestorm, Bullard offered an apology Monday night in a Facebook post where he addressed a Sept. 27 incident during the halftime of the FAMU-Alabama State University football game at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
It was written in an uncharacteristic somber tone from a man whose voice has long been associated with unabashed promotion of Rattler pride and igniting audience enthusiasm for the Marching 100.
Clearly, the backlash stung.
"Friendly competition and playful jesting have long been a part of HBCU (historically Black college and university) band culture, but I have come to understand that my words crossed a line," Bullard wrote. "My intention was never to belittle or disrespect the incredible young people who represent our schools with such grace, talent and pride. They are the embodiment of our culture, and they deserve nothing less than our full respect."
He went on to write that "As an elder who has been blessed to serve and witness the brilliance of our students for many years, I humbly ask for your forgiveness. It is my hope that we can continue to move forward together in the spirit of unity, excellence and mutual respect, regardless of the road ahead."
Understandably, Joe Bullard has come under withering fire from all directions. Though he does have his share of supporters, as you'd imagine after 30 years on the mic:
And for the school's part, FAMU has issued an apology.
But the one that really counts is the one coming from the man himself. As an apologies go, this one at least has the benefit of seeming authentic. This isn't some lawyerspeak, boilerplate, Apology Bingo card, peppered with If anyone was offendeds and my words were misinterpreteds.
Bullard just kind of came right out and said, more or less, I'm an Old. This is what we do.
He's not wrong to take that approach. It admit that Boomer humor is often cruel. The world changed and Joe didn't. He grew up in a world where Eddie Murphy put on a half dozen different fat suits and hilarity ensued. Where you couldn't get a raunchy teen comedy greenlit until you promised the studio there'd be the obligatory chubby kid who was always stuffing his face or trying to win the Pie Eating Contest at Summer Camp or whatever. I'm sure he watched hours of Three Stooges where they'd meet three sisters and one of them was always the heavy set one who'd say things like "Let's go places and eat things!!!" (That's an actual quote.)
Well, somewhere along the line, "Fatties" became "Full Figured" and eventually "Plus-Sized" and stopped being the ones who were the butts of ever joke and became empowered. But a lot of guys in Joe Bullard's position weren't paying attention. The shift in the Zeitgeist happened while they were still doing Fat Albert references:
Personally, I think when a man makes a sincere apology, you take him at his word, accept it in the spirit in which it was intended, make it a teachable moment and move on. Bullard's will be a fascinating test as to whether we still live in that world. As of right now, he's still on the mic. But that's subject to change, so stay tuned.