BBC presenter Gabby Logan has disclosed that Michael Buble contacted her privately following unexpected backlash over her coverage of the singer's performance at the World Cup opening ceremony. The Canadian crooner was among the headline acts at his nation's opening ceremony but the Beeb's live coverage didn't include his full performances.
All three host countries - Canada, Mexico and the United States - put homegrown musical talent on display in separate opening ceremonies. Buble took to the stage ahead of Canada's opening fixture, which saw them draw 1-1 with Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Speaking on The Sports Agents podcast, Logan explained that the BBC has consistently reserved full opening ceremonies for iPlayer while concentrating its live coverage on the football action. However, this did not prevent some viewers from claiming the broadcaster had 'ruined' Buble's performance after Logan and her panel spoke over it.
This brought her a barrage of criticism from supporters of the Canadian. Logan acknowledged their right to voice their views and chose not to respond, but matters escalated when Buble himself waded in.
"The next day, Michael Buble himself, on his personal account to 4.4 million people, puts up one of these posts and it's us in the studio talking over him," Logan said. "He just left it there, so I replied to him, sent him a DM and said 'really sorry, we did actually put your whole thing up on iPlayer... and I hope you didn't treat it as a mark of disrespect'.
"Then he sent back a really long, considered message to me, telling me that it's a shame in this age that people just look for the humour in something first. It was a fair point and I came back and said mea culpa, I never broadcast for clicks and likes but maybe I did intentionally lead my pundits somewhere where I felt there would be a bit of humour.
"Then he came back and he said 'Look Gabby, I appreciate you coming back to me, the BBC have always been so supportive of me, please come to a gig - I'm going to be in the UK soon'. So I went from feeling like I was going to have the wrath of Bubles on my back for the rest of my life to feeling like we might be mates."
Following Buble's introduction at BMO Field, Canada secured their maiden World Cup point. Jovo Lukic gave Bosnia and Herzegovina a half-time lead, only for substitute Cyle Larin to restore parity for the co-hosts.
Up next for Jesse Marsch's men is a clash with Qatar. The 2022 tournament hosts also shared the spoils 1-1 in their opening fixture, snatching a dramatic late leveller against Switzerland in California.
