A California reporter for ABC 7 is facing backlash after admitting on air that she could not identify Bosnia and Herzegovina on a map.
The comment came during the reporter’s coverage of the World Cup and the USA’s run in the tournament. The United States is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1. After finishing first in Group D, the U.S. advanced to the knockout stage and will now look to keep its World Cup campaign alive. With elimination on the line, the matchup is expected to be a competitive test, as the winner will move on to the Round of 16 while the losing team’s tournament comes to an end.
During her coverage of the upcoming match, the reporter admitted that she could not point out Bosnia on a map. She then added that she was not interested in learning more about the country as well. “I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia and I don’t want to know. That’s because Team USA, we’re back, we’re better than ever,” she said.
The reporter then directed a message toward Bosnia ahead of the upcoming match. “Get prepared Bosnia because you don’t want it, you don’t want it like that, but you’re gonna get it,” she said, referring to the game. The clip quickly gained attention online, with many viewers criticizing the remarks as disrespectful toward Bosnia and its people rather than simply being lighthearted support for Team USA.
Viewers Attack California Reporter Following Bosnia Comments
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers criticized the California reporter over her comments about Bosnia, arguing that they came across as dismissive and disrespectful. “We used to shame people for such ignorance,” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “This will play overseas as a commercial to talk about how dumb we are as a country. She talks like an influencer, not a reporter.”
More viewers criticized the reporter, arguing that her presentation did not reflect what they expected from a journalist. “The whole bit, the commentary, the hand gestures, the overall vibe, is more WWE heel than ‘journalism’. And she’s not on some tiny network, she’s on ABC7 in a major DMA. [Expletive]?” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “This is the most American thing ever and will definitely blow up on the soccer subs where the world can out jerk themselves on American arrogance and ignorance. It’s actually perfect for it and kind of funny.”
The video sparked a conversation about the professionalism expected from television reporters and how on air comments can quickly attract widespread attention. It also led to discussions about sportsmanship, with many viewers arguing that opponents should be treated with respect regardless of national rivalries or pre match excitement.
