### BBC Commentator Faces Criticism After On-Air Blunder Involving Wimbledon Star’s Girlfriend
A veteran BBC commentator has found himself in hot water after sparking a social media backlash from Trinity Rodman, partner of American tennis quarter-finalist Ben Shelton, during recent Wimbledon coverage. The controversy unfolded after Andrew Castle repeatedly referenced Rodman’s estranged father — the basketball legend Dennis Rodman — while addressing her incorrectly by name.
Trinity Rodman, a prominent figure in her own right as a United States Olympic gold medallist and professional footballer with Washington Spirit, has been a notable presence in the players’ box throughout Shelton’s impressive run at SW19. As Shelton, ranked world No. 10, powered through to the quarter-finals following a victory over Lorenzo Sonego, Castle’s comments on air took an uncomfortable turn.
Throughout his commentary, Castle referred to Trinity Rodman as “Tiffany” and spoke at length about her famous father whenever the television cameras cut to her in the stands. This misidentification and focus on her family background, rather than her individual achievements and role in the tournament, led to mounting frustration for Rodman.
Taking to Instagram, where she commands an audience of nearly 600,000, Rodman vented her dismay at the broadcast. “For those who don’t know… my name is TRINITY, not Tiffany,” she made clear in a direct message to viewers. “Also, for Ben’s matches, he has his family there as his support system, which includes his dad. My dad’s not even in MY life. No need to bring him up during HIS matches when I don’t even want him talked about during mine. It’s his and his loved ones’ moment. Thank you.”
Castle’s apparent lack of awareness regarding Rodman’s personal history seemed to deepen the outrage. Alongside mistakenly referring to her as “Tiffany”, he reminisced about Dennis Rodman’s NBA career, hailing him as “one of the greatest sportsmen of all time” and the “biggest wind-up merchant of all time”. He even recalled basketball anecdotes involving Michael Jordan and their time as Chicago Bulls teammates. Such digressions were at odds with the strictly focused support and familial presence that Shelton’s team, including sister Emma, provided during his matches.
For tennis fans, references to sporting greats are often welcome, yet Rodman’s situation is complex and delicate. She has discussed in previous interviews, including on the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast, the separation from her father, citing his battles with addiction and the emotional toll it had on their family. “He’s not a dad. Maybe by blood, but nothing else,” she said candidly.
Rodman has also publicly recounted instances from her childhood, including seeing her father’s challenging behaviour towards her mother, her efforts — alongside her brother DJ — to preserve his reputation, and an incident where Dennis Rodman attended one of her football matches unannounced, leaving her feeling unsettled. After that match, she largely avoided further interaction with her father for several years.
This episode has reignited discussions about the responsibilities commentators have, particularly regarding family matters that may be sensitive or private. The expectation for broadcasters to focus on the event and the primary participants, rather than overshadowing individuals in the stands, has become much more pronounced in recent years, with viewers increasingly critical of outdated or intrusive coverage.
As Ben Shelton continues his remarkable progress at Wimbledon, with loyal support from both Trinity and his sister Emma, there is hope that future coverage will remain focused on the achievements and stories of the athletes themselves, rather than casting an unwanted spotlight on the private details of those cheering from the sidelines.
Neither the BBC nor Andrew Castle have issued a public response to the criticism at this time. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the modern sporting world’s nuanced dynamics — where the line between celebrity past and personal present is not always one the broadcast booth should cross.