Ex-Liverpool Player Jamie Carragher Under Fire For Inappropriate Comment About Co-Worker Kate Abdo Made On-Air

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Former Liverpool player and current CBS Sports Champions League analyst Jamie Carragher has found himself in some hot water after he made an awkward and inappropriate comment about his co-worker, host Kate Abdo.

Following the Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Porto (Arsenal advanced on penalties), Abdo and Carragher — alongside former pros Thierry Henry and Micah Richards — were hosting the post-match show live from a pitch-side desk.

Carragher, a former Liverpool player, was wearing an Arsenal kit. Richards, a former Manchester City player, was also wearing the kit at one stage.

Speaking to Abdo, who is a Manchester United fan, Carragher said:

“You are wearing it next (pointing at Henry), for the last part you are going to wear it,” Carragher said to Abdo.

“I am not. I am loyal,” she replied, prompting Carragher to ask: “To whom?”.

“Manchester United, thank you very much,” Abdo clarified.

Carragher then responded by dragging Abdo’s partner into it by saying “Not to Malik.” Abdo is dating Malik Scott, a former professional boxer and current trainer.

The former Premier League defender immediately realized his mistake as he turned bright red and forced out a fake laugh while a clearly annoyed Abdo said: “Why would you even say that?”. His fellow co-hosts Henry and Richards also looked away in horror.

A fair warning: for those who do not deal well with cringe/awkward moments, this one is almost unbearable.

The reaction to Carragher’s comments on social media has been largely uniform, as people can’t believe he’d say something like that about his co-worker, let alone during a live broadcast.

“I think Kate Abdo is a top pro. I’ve no idea what Carragher is insinuating but he crossed the line again. How many more times? That show is like so many more these days – too ‘pally’. It was an accident waiting to happen. Abdo deserves much better,” said Richard Keys, the Senior Football Anchor for beIN SPORTS.

It should be noted that, based on the replies to his tweet, Keys doesn’t seem to be the best authority on what’s appropriate and what’s not.

“Jamie’s laugh after he said it is the dry laugh you do when you realize your joke didn’t land and it might actually be quite offensive,” pointed out one Twitter user.

“Carragher literally accused her of not being loyal to her partner in the guise of a ‘joke’ on live TV that’s so crazy,” tweeted another Champions League fan.

Carragher’s comments come on the heels of a months-long meme about the seemingly flirtatious “work wife” relationship between Abdo and Henry, which is what most people believe the Champions League winner was referring to.

To be fair to Carragher, however, there’s one interpretation of his comments where he was expecting her to say Malik when he asked who she is loyal to, and was jokingly surprised when she chose a football club over her partner. Still, the moment is ultimately a result of Carragher getting far too comfortable with a co-worker and blowing past the boundary of what’s acceptable banter.