What was supposed to be a solemn event for Gabe Paul's induction to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame turned awkward and unpleasant after Johnny Bench's side quip during the ceremony.
Bench, a 14-time All-Star wearing a Reds jersey, sucked the joy in the event for most attendees after he attempted to make a joke that was discriminatory to the Jewish community.
It was Pete Rose's turn to pay tribute to their former general manager, and he recalled how Paul signed him for "400 bucks."
Bench tried to make a joke and shouted, "He was Jewish," right at that moment.
.@JohnnyBench_5 Disgusting comment. Why did you feel it was necessary to speak ill about the Jewish people. Why? pic.twitter.com/NeQM4vJlTJ
— Bryan E. Leib (@BryanLeibFL) July 16, 2023
The joke was not well-received, and now, Bench is under fire.
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Paul's daughter, Jennie, said she did not hear the comment of Bench, although she would've said something if she had.
"I didn't even hear him say that," she told The Athletic.
"Johnny came up to me and said, 'Were you offended?' I was like, 'For what?' I didn't even hear him say that. I suppose if I had heard him say that I might have said something, but I didn't even hear him say that."
Bench apologizes for taking away the attention
Bench was the most decorated guy during the ceremony, but his accolades were not why the attention turned to him.
The 1989 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee recognized he was at fault and apologized to the family of Paul.
"I recognize my comment was insensitive," Bench said. "I apologized to Jennie for taking away from her father the full attention he deserves. Gabe Paul earned his place in the Reds Hall of Fame, same as the others who stood on that stage, I am sorry that some of the focus is on my inappropriate remark instead of solely on Gabe's achievement."
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