FOX announcer makes DEI joke as NASCAR star drives | Sports News

FOX Sports announcer Mike Joy raised eyebrows after making a “DEI” joke whereas reside on air.

During Saturday’s Group 1 apply session forward of the Goodyear 400, Joy — who drew backlash for an “embarrassing” comparability between a NASCAR legend and Carson Hocevar — appeared to get a kick out of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s paint scheme. Jack Link’s is as soon as again serving as the first sponsor of No. 47 Chevrolet driver, which has the phrases “Non Vegan” sprawled on the inside door in daring white lettering.

Addressing the distinctive livery — which has fittingly been dubbed the “Jack Link’s Non Vegan Meat Mobile” — Joy quipped: “Non vegan. I think that’s pretty funny. We live in a sport where DEI has nothing to do with diversity and equity. DEI is Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.”

Taking to social media, droves of viewers questioned why Joy made the weird comment. “Too old, out of touch, and unfunny,” an X person wrote, with one other including: “What in the world is Mike Joy doing here and why in the world is he associating veganism with diversity, equity and inclusion programs? Just absolute nonsense from someone who knows better.”

Others swiftly rushed to the protection of Joy, insisting that the 76-year-old was merely referencing an previous meme that made the rounds within the racing group. “I think although toeing the line of what’s accepted societally, he made a tasteful comment/joke that was funny and very true lol and didn’t require any expansion upon to put his broadcast partners in a situation,” one particular person stated.

Someone else famous: “He’s addressing a well known internet meme amongst race fans, presumably, to make the broadcast entertaining.” A fifth chimed in, “It’s a joke that’s been around for 6 years now.”

This is hardly the primary time that Joy has discovered himself in scorching water this month. Last week, the commentator was compelled to problem a public apology for spreading false data relating to Alex Bowman.

During the Straight Talk Wireless 500 on March 8, Joy claimed that vertigo wasn’t the rationale why Bowman was unable to take part within the occasion at Phoenix Raceway. One week prior, the Hendrick Motorsports driver was sidelined for the Duramax Texas Grand Prix whereas experiencing lingering signs.

Joy promptly walked back his feedback upon realizing that vertigo did in truth trigger Bowman’s absence, writing on X: “I misspoke Sunday about [Bowman]’s vertigo, which he experienced during the COTA race. Apologies to Alex; I’ll correct and update on Sunday’s telecast. Hope he’s recovered and back on track soon.”

In a separate post, Joy added: “For some who asked for details, I mistakenly said Alex Bowman’s vertigo that sidelined him for PHX wasn’t related to the COTA situation. It was a continuation of that. I intended to say it wasn’t related to a prior concussion (per HMS’ Jeff Andrews), and that got crossed up.”