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ESPN commentator Doug Adler is being apologetic after he got caught comparing tennis star Venus Williams to a gorilla.

Williams is currently competing in the Austrailian Open. As Williams’ opponent began to serve, Adler offered some words on how she seems to gain more strength and tenacity as the match went on.

His words, “She misses a first serve and Venus is all over her. You see Venus move in and put the gorilla effect on. Charging.”

Adler has to know better right?

It didn’t take long for viewers and social media hawks to go in for the kill, demanding that Adler be reprimanded or disciplined for his remarks. Adler has since apologized and defended his speech saying that he didn’t say what everyone thinks he did.

Chicago Tribune writes that Adler says he meant “guerilla” as in aggressive tactics, not “gorilla” as in the animal that racists are known to compare African-Americans, especially athletic ones, to.

Ever since they took over the tennis world, both Venus and her sister Serena have had to deal with slick comments about their hair, body and background. Adler’s alleged slip of the tongue is nothing new.

Listen for yourself below.

Photo: WENN.com