Wimbledon semi-finalist Ben Shelton’s football star girlfriend has won an apology after BBC commentator Andrew Castle repeatedly got her name wrong on-air.
Trinity Rodman hit out online after the tennis pundit wrongly referred to her as ‘Tiffany’ as well as mentioning her estranged father, NBA legend Dennis Rodman.
Now the BBC has said sorry on behalf of Castle, who twice competed at Wimbledon during his playing days in the 1980s, for ‘mispronouncing’ her name during this fortnight’s coverage from the All-England Club in south-west London.
Rodman and Shelton have been hailed as a new sporting ‘power couple’ during his run to the quarter-finals of the men’s singles, ahead of a showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner on Court One scheduled for later on Wednesday.
US star Shelton, seeded number ten, is going out with Trinity, who has won 47 caps for the USA women’s soccer team while also playing for Washington Spirit.
The 23-year-old star used her Instagram account to criticise former GMTV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Castle, 61, over his latest Wimbledon coverage in which she was called ‘Tiffany’ and mentioned as Dennis Rodman’s daughter.
Trinity has previously stated how strained her relationship is with her father, an NBA Hall of Famer who became known for living an outlandish, womanising lifestyle.
Dennis divorced from Trinity’s mother Michelle Moyer in 2012 and went long periods without speaking to his daughter.
Trinity said last year that she does not even have his number saved on her phone, but she fields his occasional calls.
She told the podcast named Call Her Daddy: ‘I answer the phone now for my conscience, to be like, he needed to hear my voice before anything else happens.
‘That’s why I answer the phone, not for me. He’s not a dad. Maybe by blood, but nothing else.’
Yet the family connection has come up various times during the BBC’s broadcasts as she cheers on her boyfriend Shelton during his successful run so far.
She has posted on Instagram in response: ‘For those who don’t know, my name is TRINITY not Tiffany.
‘Also, for Ben’s matches he has his family there as a support system, which includes his dad.
‘My dad is 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 him and his loved ones’ moment. Thank you.’
Her message has received online support from fans – and now the BBC has responded to the backlash.
He had been heard to say during coverage of Shelton’s previous play, when cameras focused on Trinity: ‘Her father is Dennis Rodman, who’s one of the greatest sportsmen of all time in my opinion.
‘The greatest rebounder in NBA history and the biggest wind-up merchant of all time.’
Internet critics have accused him of committing a ‘micro-aggression’ and showing a ‘lack of care’ for Trinity.
A BBC spokesman has now said on Castle’s behalf: ‘Andrew apologises for mispronouncing Trinity Rodman’s name during the Ben Shelton vs. Lorenzo Sonego match.’
Shelton defeated world number 252 Sonego in four sets on Monday to reach today’s quarter-final against Sonego’s Italian compatriot and three-time Grand Slam champion Sinner.
