Well, NBC isn’t winning anyone over after what reporter, and former Olympian, Christin Cooper did. Cooper was interviewing United States Olympic skier Bode Miller and asked him repeatedly about his dead brother until he cried.
The internet and Twitter were rightfully upset about it. Especially the decision to leave it in after all the tape delay.
NBC reporter just fired off four repetitive leading questions until Bode Miller cried. Like Roy Firestone interviewing Rod Tidwell.
— Brian Christopherson (@Husker247BC) February 17, 2014
Even worse about the Bode Miller attack was that NBC had the footage all day to change their minds about it. They didn't. #NBCFail
— Ty Unglebower (@TyUnglebower) February 17, 2014
A former Olympic racer, NBC's Christin Cooper persisted asking @MillerBode about losing his brother until he broke down and simply left.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) February 17, 2014
.@NBCOlympics just went too far interviewing @MillerBode. You don't badger a man to tears about his recently deceased brother. #Sochi2014
— James Michael Sama (@JamesMSama) February 17, 2014
Kristen Cooper of NBC Sports is the definition of a horrible sports broadcaster. The worst interview ever of Bode Miller. #bode
— Jerry Young (@JerryYoungFB) February 17, 2014
Who was that jerk interviewing Bode Miller pushing him on his brother passing away until he broke down? She was disgusting.
— Paul Greenberg (@pgreenbe) February 17, 2014
. @NBCOlympics Too bad you guys couldn't squeeze a few more "dead brother" questions into that Bode Miller interview.
— Tom Costello (@tcostello) February 17, 2014
[UPDATE:] USA Today’s Chris Chase of For The Win transcribed the interaction:
The resulting talk with NBC’s Christin Cooper was as raw and emotional as an interview at a sporting event can get, as Miller talked about his younger brother Chilly, who died last year of an apparent seizure thought to be related to a brain injury from an old motorcycle accident. The camera zoomed in tight as Bode spoke.
Miller: This was a little different. With my brother passing away, I really wanted to come back here and race the way he sends it. So this was a little different.
Cooper: Bode, you’re showing so much emotion down here. What’s going through your mind?
Miller: (Long pause) A lot, obviously. A long struggle coming in here. And, uh, just a tough year.
Cooper: I know you wanted to be here with Chilly experiencing these games, how much does it mean to you to come up with a great performance for him? And was it for him?
Miller: I mean, I don’t know it’s really for him. But I wanted to come here and uh — I don’t know, I guess make my self proud. (Pauses, then wipes away tears.)
Cooper: When you’re looking up in the sky at the start, we see you there and it just looks like you’re talking to somebody. What’s going on there?
After that question, Miller fell to his knees and rested himself on a fence separating him from Cooper. The NBC interviewer could be heard whispering “sorry” and gently put her hand on Miller’s shoulder before he walked away a few seconds later.
[UPDATE:] Now with video, via SB Nation:
[UPDATE:] This apparently isn’t an isolated incident. NBC has been singling in on those dealing with losses throughout the games. The Salt Lake Tribune’s Nate Carlisle made a list of Olympic athletes and various reporting outlets asking about or mentioning their lost loved ones.
Read more about this at the Salt Lake Tribune here.
[UPDATE:] Bode Miller responds and asks fans to “be gentle” with reporter Christin Cooper and tries to defend her.
I appreciate everyone sticking up for me. Please be gentle w christin cooper, it was crazy emotional and not all her fault. #heatofthemoment
— Bode Miller (@MillerBode) February 17, 2014
My emotions were very raw, she asked the questions that every interviewer would have, pushing is part of it, she wasnt trying to cause pain.
— Bode Miller (@MillerBode) February 17, 2014
[UPDATE:] Bode Miller defends Cooper on Today Show.