It would appear as though Mike Tirico may have crossed a line in China.
We know NBC has rejected ads taken out during the Olympics to call out China over its human rights violations.
We also know China does not want athletes or reporters discussing political issues on-air during the broadcast, which is exactly what Tirico did.
Can’t Say That
NBC had pretty much banned anything bad regarding China…
NBC Allegedly Refuses To Air Ad Criticizing The Chinese Dictatorship's Genocide https://t.co/OwY5MtKF8q
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 5, 2022
Tirico made the mistake of discussing numerous issues regarding China.
During his broadcast, Tirico stated, “Everything and everyone attached to these Games is facing questions.
“The United States government is not here, a diplomatic boycott announced this fall joined by Canada, Great Britain and Australia citing China’s human rights record and the US government’s declaration that the Chinese Communist Party is guilty of committing genocide on the Uyghur Muslim population in Western Xinjiang region.”
He had also mentioned that China was the “nation where Covid began.”
The segment caught the attention of quite a few people…
Human rights, China discussion happening now on NBC during #Olympics coverage. Tirico's range off the charts.
— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) February 4, 2022
NBC Olympics/Tirico doing a pretty substantive segment on Chinese gov’t now, including Peng Shuai.
— Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) February 4, 2022
That was where everything ended until Tirico was pulled off the Olympic coverage almost a full week before he was scheduled to come back.
AP reported that Tirico’s “schedule was subject to change based on COVID-19 and other factors,” such as creating outrage in China over his comments, perhaps.
China has threatened athletes and we even saw one broadcast get shut down.
Perhaps NBC figured it was best to get him out of town as quickly as possible before the wrong people knocked on his door and took him away, never to be seen again.
Why do you think Tirico was pulled out of China?
Tell us in the comments section below.
Source: Daily Caller