Total Pro Sports
Scott Van Pelt felt himself being canceled and made the lock-in of the century. For those watching ESPN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, it seemed to start out on an awkward note.
The Sports Center broadcaster watched footage of couples ringing in the new year at Times Square. Per usual, they showed many couples kissing after the countdown. Al seemed perfectly fine until the camera showed a gay couple locking lips.
“Yeah… Live makeouts on SportsCenter. Get into it,” he said as men and women were shown kissing each other. His demeanor changed when two men were shown kissing. “Ohhhhhhhh! What are we … What do we got …. We got love in the air!” Van Pelt said as he saved himself from catosprohy.
He then raised his arms in the air and acted elated as they went off the air. Scott Van Pelt’s reaction had been seen by millions of people as it spread on social media. It went so viral that eventually the moment would reach the two men who were shown to millions.
Scott Van Pelt narrowly avoided losing his job during ESPN’s late-night SportsCenter broadcast on New Year’s Eve. He demonstrated quick judgment during an unexpected live television situation.
Personal trainer Ricky Locci and his boyfriend, DJ Petrosino, have since been found. The viral clip has since died down, but the couple is now speaking out. Talking to Outsports, Locci said, ‘It’s been an interesting mix of reactions!”
“We’ve had a lot of support, with people saying the kiss warmed their hearts, that they were so happy for us, or that they needed to see that, especially after this last year.
Meanwhile, Petrosino added, ‘We thought it would just be shown on the Jumbotrons. We didn’t know it was going to be televised. We kiss all the time, so we didn’t think it was that big of a deal.’
When it came to Scott Van Pelt, the couple dismissed any negativity coming his way. They thought the ESPN broadcaster was merely ‘surprised.’
Petrosino continued: ‘It speaks to the nature of the society that we’ve created that he didn’t want to say the wrong thing.
‘Some people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s disgusted!’ Others are like, ‘He’s aroused!’ Our interpretation was that he was surprised and didn’t want to say the wrong thing.’
Lucci had a similar reaction as he felt no malice in Van Pelt’s reaction. He believed online trolls took the viral clip way too far. Locci added, ‘It’s crazy how you saw people take his reaction and try to make the worst out of it. I guess they’ll interpret it the way that they want.’
