Broadcaster Mike Parry has been mocked after complaining that Everton player Dominic Calvert-Lewin appeared in an advert while injured.
The former Talksport host went on a bizarre tirade after Calvert-Lewin appeared in a commercial that was aired during his team’s match against Brentford on Sunday.
Calvert-Lewin has been out since August, at first due to a fractured toe. He later sustained a thigh injury so wasn’t playing in Sunday’s match.
But, during coverage of the game, the 24-year old appeared in a Braun advert after the company announced Calvert-Lewin as their first-ever UK brand ambassador.
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This seems to have particularly peeved off Parry, who went on a bizarre rant on Twitter and slated Calvert-Lewin’s appearance in the advert.
Parry tweeted: “Have I accidentally been eating magic mushrooms or is this really @Everton centre-forward @CalvertLewin14 advertising a shaver on TV at half-time of the live coverage of our game as Everton are losing 1-0... He’s too injured to play but fit enough to be in an advert. I despair.”
Have I accidentally been eating magic mushrooms or is this really @Everton centre-forward @CalvertLewin14 advertising a shaver on TV at half-time of the live coverage of our game as Everton are losing 1-0 .. He's too injured to play but fit enough to be in an advert. I despair 😑 pic.twitter.com/h0r6vE0m44
— Mike Parry (@mikeparry8) November 28, 2021
Of course, it goes without saying that the adverts aired are not in fact live but are pre-recorded which plenty of people pointed out to the 66-year-old. And we’re pretty sure a thigh or toe injury won’t affect anyone’s ability to shave. And so the mocking ensued...
Don’t think the adverts are live Mike
— simon hunt (@bwfcsi) November 28, 2021
Mike Parry thinks adverts are live. Pass it on. https://t.co/OwctZ1hzL2
— Rich Arrowsmith (@RichArrowsmith) November 28, 2021
Does Mike Parry think TV adverts are… live??? pic.twitter.com/4RPBirw7vW
— Reuben (@ReubenPinder) November 28, 2021
Mike Parry genuinely thinks an injured player should spend every minute of every day they’re out of action in a rehab facility.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 28, 2021
Eating? Drinking? Speaking? Smiling? Laughing? All unnecessary distractions from rehab in Mike’s world. https://t.co/eZXz5EbpnM
Does Mike Parry think that the all the people on his TV live inside it? https://t.co/Cc30qBzxFv
— Game of Throw-ins (@GameofThrowIns) November 28, 2021
Someone tell Mike Parry that @CalvertLewin14 doesn't get up off the sofa every ad break and shave live on TV https://t.co/3t7FEOBU6z
— Project Football (@ProjectFootball) November 28, 2021
If your having a bad day don’t worry atleast you don’t think adverts are live like Mike Parry does 🤣 https://t.co/HRdltdXLv1
— Delaney (@markdel99) November 28, 2021
Mike Parry not understanding how adverts work is something I needed today. Thank you.
— AFCVegan (@AFCBeef) November 28, 2021
Mike Parry on twitter is like having your grandparents on Facebook. https://t.co/e049kn0HUI
— Ash (@ashlaurenn_) November 28, 2021
Responding to someone who pointed this out to him, Parry said he thinks the advert was pre-recorded but added that “it’s so long and multi-visual” and so reckons “it took a couple of days to film.”
“THEN it’s slotted in to the half-time break of today’s game as @Everton are losing,” he added before asking, “...is anybody out there as appalled as me?”
The game is LIVE .. of course the ad has been pre-recorded and it's so long and multi-visual I reckon it could have taken a couple of days to film. THEN it's slotted in to the half-time break of today's game as @Everton are losing .. is anybody out there as appalled as me? https://t.co/Qh4Mnb0jjl
— Mike Parry (@mikeparry8) November 28, 2021
It seems the answer is no, as people continued to troll Parry for doubling down on his argument and for thinking that the scoreline somehow impacts what adverts get shown during the break.
😂😂😂
— ravi.s (@iAmRaviS) November 28, 2021
Yeah I’m sure they waited until Everton were losing to place the advert, deffo wasn’t arranged before hand! https://t.co/SOx1h2TTDF
Just you Mike. Just you. Everyone else has at least 1 working brain cell. https://t.co/aSGKEMeXt2
— Stokesy (@StokesyPlays) November 28, 2021
Gonna blow your mind again here Mike....
— Oli Kilroe (@OLILFC11) November 28, 2021
Clubs don't control what adverts are shown on sky 😱
And maybe, just maybe the advertisers know lots of EFC fans will be watching at that time, which is why they picked one of their players to advertise a product with. 🤯 https://t.co/jDpZ7DqSjw
It's literally just a bloke having a shave hahahahahahha https://t.co/dP5HiIeFIi
— Major Chiles Innocent (@JoeStephenson96) November 28, 2021
Don’t think they choose the adverts based on scores Mike 😂 https://t.co/IjU52CZMOC
— JR (@jordrobinsonnn1) November 28, 2021
After being duly roasted for his takes, Parry thanked everyone for their feedback, but continued to reiterate his point.
The broadcaster tweeted: “OK FOLKS .. thanks for all your feed-back on @Everton centre forward @CalvertLewin14 .. My salient point is that Everton are struggling against Brentford and the 1st view we get of our injured centre-forward is a TV advert in the half-time break as he’s promoting shavers .. Que!”
OK FOLKS .. thanks for all your feed-back on @Everton centre forward @CalvertLewin14 .. My salient point is that Everton are struggling against Brentford and the 1st view we get of our injured centre-forward is a TV advert in the half-time break as he's promoting shavers .. Que!
— Mike Parry (@mikeparry8) November 28, 2021
It’s not the first time Parry has slammed Calvert-Lewin for a TV appearance while injured either.
Earlier this month, Parry said he was “appalled” to see Calvert-Lewin appear as a guest on Sky Sports ahead of Everton’s match against Wolves on November 1.
“I am absolutely appalled to see @Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin @CalvertLewin14 having a laugh and a shout on the @SkySports show in the build up to tonight’s game v Wolves ..”
He added: “Get out of TV studios Dominic and get back into physiotherapy .. what on earth are you thinking?”
I am absolutely appalled to see @Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin @CalvertLewin14 having a laugh and a shout on the @SkySports show in the build up to tonight's game v Wolves .. Get out of TV studios Dominic and get back into physiotherapy .. what on earth are you thinking? pic.twitter.com/1SCUTW39YH
— Mike Parry (@mikeparry8) November 1, 2021
He didn’t stop there and his rant continued, exclaiming how he was “appalled” (again) before asking “what’s he doing in a TV studio .. why isn’t he still in physio .. how can @rafabenitezweb allow this.”
I am absolutely appalled that @CalvertLewin14 .. allegedly @Everton centre-forward has spent the last 10 minutes on @SkySports telling us all how inspired he is by @Cristiano .. what's he doing in a TV studio .. why isn't he still in physio .. how can @rafabenitezweb allow this pic.twitter.com/ObvxrUVxyO
— Mike Parry (@mikeparry8) November 1, 2021
Safe to assume he’s not a fan of the striker... at least until he comes back from injury anyway.