- The original article referred to the Tigers as basketball’s ‘dirty debutantes’.
- LSU players and coaches accused the writer of sexism and racism.
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The Los Angeles Times updated an article it deemed did not meet editorial standards following allegations of sexism and racism from players on the LSU Tigers women’s basketball team.
This article, written by author Ben Bolchseemed to go further by demonizing the Tigers in the lead-up to their Sweet 16 matchup against the UCLA Bruins.
In particular, LSU took issue with the second line of the article which read: “Do you prefer America’s sweethearts or its dirty debutantes?” Milk and cookies or Louisiana hot sauce?
That line was deleted from the article around 9:55 p.m. Pacific Time before an update notice took its place, saying: ‘A previous version of this commentary did not meet The Times’ editorial standards. It has been updated.’
Bolch’s article seemed to drive home the point of describing LSU as the ‘villains’ of women’s basketball, while also painting a very positive picture of the Bruins.
The second line of an LA Times op-ed criticizing the LSU women’s team has been edited.
The second line of the story written by Ben Bolch has been replaced with an update box.
After the Tigers defeated the Bruins, LSU coach Kim Mulkey criticized the article as sexist.
“In that game today it was good against evil. Devil? ‘Did they call us dirty debutantes?’ Mulkey said. ‘Get out your phone right now, Google dirty debutantes and tell me what it says.’
‘Dirty debutantes? Are you kidding me? I’m not going to let you speak in that tone of 18 to 21 year old boys.
“It was even sexist for this journalist to say that UCLA was milk and cookies.”
One of Mulkey’s players, transfer guard Hailey Van Lith, accused the writer of racism. She is one of two white players in a group of twelve women.
“We have a lot of black women on this team and unfortunately that prejudice still exists today, and a lot of the people who make those comments are racist towards my teammates,” Van Lith said.
“I’m in a unique situation where I look at myself, I talk trash, and I get a different reaction than if Angel (Reese) talks trash.
‘I have a duty to my teammates to support them. Some of the words used in that article were very sad and disturbing.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey criticized the article and even called the writer sexist.
Guard Hailey Van Lith, one of only two white players on the team, accused the writer of racism.
‘Calling us the dirty debutantes, that has nothing to do with sports. That’s not motivating.
“But in my opinion, I know for a fact that people see us differently because we have a lot of black women on our team who have an attitude and like to talk trash and people feel something about it.
‘At the end of the day, I’m rocking with them because they don’t let it change who they are. They stay true to themselves and that’s why I will support them.
Earlier on Saturday, the Washington Post published a profile on Mulkey that the coach prematurely called a “hit piece” before it was even published.
He said he has not read the article and would leave it to his lawyers.
