NASCAR: Hailie Deegan apologizes for livestream comment
By Asher Fair
NASCAR Truck Series driver Hailie Deegan apologized for using a word that offended several fans watching her Twitch livestream of an iRacing event.
Ford development driver Hailie Deegan, who is set to compete full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series for David Gilliland Racing in the upcoming 2021 season after finishing in third place in the 2020 ARCA Menards Series championship standings, got herself into hot water with many fans on Sunday evening.
During her Twitch livestream of an iRacing event, the 19-year-old Temecula, California native used a word she later described as “inappropriate slang”, which offended several fans.
Here is an unfiltered video of her making the comment.
Many fans were quick to criticize the three-time K&N Pro Series West race winner for saying what she said, with some on social media even calling for her to be “cancelled”.
Others blew it off as not being nearly a deal as others were making it out to be.
Nevertheless, she proceeded to issue an apology for saying it, posting that apology to her Twitter account.
Earlier tonight I used an insensitive word during an online race being broadcast on twitch. It was inappropriate slang and a stupid thing to do. I apologize to everyone who was offended by it. There's no excuse for it, and I know I have to do better for my sponsors and my fans.
— Hailie Deegan (@HailieDeegan) January 11, 2021
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Without comparing the specifics of one incident to the other, this marks the second incident in the last nine months of a NASCAR driver referring to another individual using insensitive slang during a livestream of an iRacing event and ultimately apologizing for it.
Last April, Cup Series driver Kyle Larson apologized for using a racial slur during an iRacing event and was ultimately fired by Chip Ganassi Racing after several sponsors cut ties with him. He has since signed with Hendrick Motorsports to return to the Cup Series and compete in the 2021 season.
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Deegan’s rookie Truck Series season is scheduled to get underway on Friday, February 12 at Daytona International Speedway with the NextEra Energy 250, with Fox Sports 1 set to broadcast the race live beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. Deegan has one Truck Series start to her name, as she made her series debut at Kansas Speedway in October and finished in 16th place after starting in 34th.