The BBC were compelled to abruptly end an expletive-laden interview with controversial tennis star Corentin Moutet at Queen's after he uttered profanities seven times during the live broadcast.
The Frenchman was reflecting on his victory over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the second round—a match that spanned two days after insufficient light forced a halt to Monday evening's play.
Play was suspended with Moutet ahead 2-1 in the third set, after the 27-year-old insisted proceedings be stopped. When the match resumed, Moutet emerged victorious, earning himself a clash with either Cameron Norrie or fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
During his on-court chat with the BBC's Jenny Drummond, Moutet began by praising his French compatriot Mpetshi Perricard, saying: "The guy is playing incredible. He's an amazing player. It was so much pressure because every point is very important because he's serving that good that he puts so much pressure on my service game. I'm so happy to make it today. It's been a long last two months so I'm happy to get a win here. Thanks to all of you for coming both days and I'm very happy to get the win here today."
When questioned about a particular moment where Mpetshi Perricard unleashed a blistering 142mph second serve, Moutet accidentally let slip a profanity: "That's so frustrating. When I had match point I was on the second serve, you aim in the middle, whatever you do just put the ball in the court and then he hits me with 142. I was like, 'F*** I will have to serve.'"
The Queen's Club audience erupted in laughter as Moutet paused mid-sentence, prompting Drummond to pull the microphone away while warning: "No f bombs please!" However, when the mic returned to him, the world No. 36 sparked a "no, no, no!" from the BBC presenter by retorting: "F***, f***, f***!"
Drummond attempted to regain control: "Right Corentin I'm going to ask you one more question. Apologies everyone for the language there. I'm going to ask you one more question so please keep it clean OK?"
She enquired: "You on the grass. Last week unfortunately didn't go your way but what's it like to get your first victory?" Yet Moutet simply repeated: "F***, f***, f***."
Drummond issued another apology before cutting short the interview: "OK. Corentin we need to improve that for the next round. Apologies everyone. Corentin Moutet!"
The BBC then cut back to Clare Balding in the studio. The host said: "Just to repeat those apologies for everyone watching on BBC Two and iPlayer. Corentin Moutet living up to his bad boy image. 'Chaos makes the news' is what he wrote on the camera screen there. It's a tattoo he has as well. And yep, chaos is what he can create! He's through to the second round."
Moutet is anticipated to receive a financial penalty for his conduct during his BBC interview. He has earned £32,660 (€37,780) at the tournament thus far this week and posted on social media: "I was just joking, hope you guys didn't get offended. Thanks for the love."
This wasn't the sole incident Moutet has sparked at Queen's, having previously declined to carry on playing on Monday evening as light faded.
The BBC's Annabel Croft expressed being "quite appalled" with Moutet's actions and remarked: "I just thought he left the court for quite a period of time, so that ate into the light they had left, and then he categorically sat down and said, 'I am not playing on, get the supervisor out.' He was 2-1 up. James Keothavong made it clear and said we don't stop at that. we have to stop on an even game, and he said, 'Well, I'm not playing.' He argued with the supervisor and the chair umpire, and at one point, Denise [supervisor] had to say, 'Please, will you let me speak.' And he got his way. I thought this is not right. He said I do not want to come out tomorrow and want to serve, I thought if you do that, that's an advantage because you are serving first. For [Giovanni] Mpetshi Perricard, that's unfair, as he's had to sleep being down 2-1. I thought it was bad that player power overruled a referee and an umpire. How did that happen?"
