Sky Sports Axes 'sexist' Tiktok Channel Halo After Three Days

Sky Sports has scrapped its caller female-focused TikTok channel, Halo, aft it faced a backlash online pinch its posts described arsenic "patronising" and "sexist".

In a connection posted connected societal media connected Saturday night, nan broadcaster admitted that it "didn't get it right" and that it would beryllium "stopping each activity" connected nan account.

The channel, which was only announced connected Thursday, was touted by nan broadcaster arsenic an "inclusive, dedicated level for women to bask and research contented from each sports, while amplifying female voices and perspectives."

However, galore connected societal media criticised nan "little sister" account, which talked astir "hot woman walks", matcha and Labubu toys successful its content.

At its inception, Sky said Halo's purpose was "to build a welcoming organization for female fans, whether casual aliases committed, done fun, trend-led, and relatable content".

That contented included 1 TikTok station referencing a Formula 1 ungraded titled "Explaining 2008 Crashgate successful woman terms" written successful pinkish glowing matter alongside pinkish nail polish emojis.

Another station saw a clip of Manchester City players Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland combining for nan second to people against Bournemouth, fixed nan caption "How nan matcha + basking woman locomotion combo hits".

Viewers based on nan posts were "infantilising" and undermined nan activity done complete nan past fewer years to put women's athletics successful nan spotlight. "One measurement forwards, 50 years back", 1 personification put it.

GirlsontheBall, a salient level covering women's football, voiced its frustrations saying connected X they could not "imagine this is what women sports fans want".

"Have galore thoughts which I will get to erstwhile not nether a upland of penning but each I tin inquire is why? The branding (one time tin we please beryllium past nan pink/peach stage?!), nan premise, nan copy…"

One personification said that Sky Sports Halo was 1 of nan worst concepts he had ever seen.

"So condescending. Creating a dumbed down sports transmission for women is unbelievably sexist. Incredible that it was approved and that it's still live," they said.

While nan transmission was aimed astatine women galore of nan sports stars featured successful its posts were men.

Andy Gill, caput of societal media and assemblage improvement astatine Sky Sports, wrote connected LinkedIn that he "couldn't beryllium prouder and much excited astir [Halo's] launch", but by Saturday nighttime nan broadcaster was forced to rethink.

All but 2 posts person been deleted from nan Halo account, 1 of which is simply a little connection from Sky which reads: "Our volition for Halo was to create a abstraction alongside our existing transmission for new, young, female fans.

"We've listened. We didn't get it right. As a consequence we're stopping each activity connected this account. We're learning and stay arsenic committed arsenic ever to creating spaces wherever fans consciousness included and inspired."

The BBC contacted Sky for remark but it had thing further to add.