In what seemed like a routine segment on the Late Late Show on Friday night Ryan Tubridy sat down with Robbie Reynolds to go through a selection of photos nominated for the Press Photographers Association Of Ireland Awards this year.
There were a lot of great photographs, and then things took a turn for the uncomfortable as Tubridy and Reynolds dissected an extremely graphic picture of Seamus Coleman's career threatening leg break. It seemed wholly unnecessary to pore over the picture on national television, however impressive a photo it was.
There were audible gasps from the crowd as the image came up on the big screen and Tubridy himself couldn't help but cringe while looking at the tackle which saw Coleman needing surgery for a double leg fracture. The whole exercise seemed needlessly gratuitous, the video of Coleman's injury wasn't even repeated by RTÉ when it happened during their coverage of the match, to drag it up now was a curious decision.
Tubridy in true Alan Partridge fashion managed to squeeze in an off colour comment remarking "bend it like Beckham" after seeing how mangled Coleman's leg was. Not to turn too "Oh won't someone please think of the children" but to display a picture like this felt in very poor taste.
Surely it is now obvious @RTELateLateShow is beyond it's sell by date. Tubridy's crass, unfunny and tasteless comment about Seamus Coleman's horrific injury further illustrates how unsuited he is to this format.
— John Corrigan (@JOHNCORRIGAN739) February 18, 2018
How does Ryan Tubridy keep doing it Bend it like Beckam indeed - that was Seamus Coleman's broken leg. #LateLateShow - bad enough showing picture without warning! @FAIreland @offtheball
— Joe Doherty (@joedoc23) February 17, 2018
#LateLateShow tubridy showing his distance from reality making a joke out of seamus coleman leg break
— fintan mc hale (@HaleforceMc) February 17, 2018
#LateLateShow did Tubridy make a joke of Seamus Coleman's horrific injury? Christ almighty! @rte
— Gary Lambert (@GazoLambo) February 16, 2018
Did tubridy just make a ‘bend it like beckham’ joke about Seamus Coleman’s broken leg?? Have I missed something?
— Mark May (@Mayzer5) February 16, 2018
You can watch the segment here, but be warned, it is graphic.
Thankfully Coleman made a full recovery from the injury, returning to Premier League action against Leicester City on the 31st of January, though the Killybegs man has had a setback, injuring himself against Crystal Palace eight days ago. Everton manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed that the muscle injury isn't related to his leg break.
