An announcer at a recent college football game has come under fire following his comments about a rival school’s dance team.
On Saturday, during halftime at Bragg Memorial Stadium as Florida A&M University took on Alabama State University, a longtime announcer for the Florida Rattlers referred to ASU’s Honey Beez—a plus-sized dance team that performs with the school’s marching band—as “the new face of Ozempic.”
Ozempic is a weekly injectable typically used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but within the last few years, it has been used to aid in weight loss.
The comment quickly went viral on X, drawing criticism of the announcer — later identified as Joe Bullard — for “disrespecting” and “dehumanizing” the team.
“So FAMU announcer decided to disrespect the Honeybeez, the dance team of Alabama State University Marching Hornets calling them ‘the new face of ozempic’ at yesterday’s FAMU vs ASU football game,” one person wrote on X alongside a video of the announcer speaking. “Not only is this dehumanizing, it is fatphobic [as f***].”
The negative comments led to Florida A&M University’s president, Marva Johnson, issuing a statement in which she condemned the incident.
“I extend my deepest and sincerest apologies to the Honey Beez, the Mighty Marching Hornets, President Quinton Ross, and the entire Alabama State University community,” her statement read.
“The Honey Beez represent discipline, school pride, and their performance tradition is respected across the nation. To have their dedication and artistry diminished by a thoughtless comment does not reflect the values or the respect we hold for our colleagues at Alabama State University or for the broader HBCU [Historically Black College and University] community.”
Johnson explained that she had spoken to Alabama State University’s president, Quinton Ross, to personally apologize for the comments and let him know they “will not be tolerated.”
“We remain committed to upholding the dignity and excellence that all HBCU institutions bring to the field, the classroom, and the community,” the statement concluded.
Ross also went on to release a statement of his own on Alabama State University’s Instagram account in which he called the band announcer’s statement “absolutely unacceptable.”
“While we recognize the spirit of competition, there is no place for disparaging or demeaning remarks directed at our scholars,” he wrote.
The president of the school also included a message directly to the Honey Beez, writing, “Honey Beez, please know that you are celebrated, valued, and admired for the joy that you bring to the Hornet Nation, and also for the bold and fearless way you represent the very best of ASU.”
“Continue to shine, because your light cannot be dimmed by negativity,” he added.
