Richard Keys seemed to be unaffected by any anger he’d caused as he was seen for first time since controversial comments about Gabby Logan’s late father
Richard Keys seemed to be happily ignoring the furore as he was seen for the first time on Tuesday morning after his controversial comments in a tribute to Gabby Logan’s late father caused huge upset.
The former Sky Sports reporter was smiling broadly and in high spirits as he left a breakfast at London’s Claridge’s Hotel with GB News broadcaster Eamonn Holmes – just days after furious fellow presenter Laura Woods branded him a “twat”.
Eamonn also looked to be in a good mood after the lunch, as he was seen grinning before making his exit helped by staff at the Mayfair restaurant and the use of his frame. The presenter is standing by his pal after Keys caused a furore after his comments in relation to the death of Logan’s father Terry Yorath last week.
READ MORE: JD Sports shares major change it thinks is ‘the future of how people will shop’
Welsh football icon and Leeds United legend Tery passed away aged 75, his death following a short illness confirmed on Thursday morning.
In response to the sad news, his daughter Gabby was forced to leave Match of the Day mid-broadcast on Wednesday evening for a ‘’family emergency”. Joining the wave of tributes after the loss was reported, Keys wrote on X: “Sad to hear the news of Terry Yorath’s passing. He was a warrior & won fans over wherever he played.”
“He was great for us at Coventry & the reason I got Gabby a job at Sky. I had no idea who she was when we met, but I knew her dad. RIP Terry. Your daughter did you proud.”
Some felt the BeIN Sports broadcaster’s choice of words were insensitive and a deliberate dig at Gabby – including TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods, who responded, “Sorry… but what a t**t. Said with zero surprise.”
She added: “Also want to add my respects to the thousands of others who are showing theirs compassionately to a much beloved broadcaster and her family. Sending all my love x.”
Former BBC Sport presenter Dan Walker also urged Keys to change his tribute, posting: “Richard, just imagine what it would be like for Gabby, or a member of her family, to read this. I’m hoping you have just worded this badly and it isn’t a dig at a really difficult time. There is still time to change it.”
Later addressing his comments on X, Keys wrote: “What a shame my words for a footballing hero of mine were entirely misinterpreted. Terry Yorath was a fabulous guy. A warrior. My affection for him meant I was more than happy to help him & his family in any way I could. Gabby’s career would make any father proud. RIP Terry.”
Yet Key’s post is just the latest episode in a rocky relationship with Logan. Back in 2022 he threatened Logan with “libel action” after she wrote about an encounter with him and former Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray in her memoir, The First Half.
In the tome, she claimed Keys and Gray made “cruel” comments around her during a flight in 2005.
She wrote: “Even years after I’d left Sky, it appeared I was still fair game for Gray and Keys. I sat a row behind them on a flight to Istanbul for the Champions League Final in 2005, which I was covering for ITV. I was seven months pregnant with twins, and I was huge. I looked like I’d swallowed a space hopper.”
Logan’s family shared a heartfelt joint statement following the announcement of his death on Thursday, Logan later offering her own personal tribute on social media. “Rest in Peace Dad, our hearts are broken, your love and legacy lives on.”
His sports presenter daughter added later that evening: “Thank you for your messages of love and support today, it has meant the world to us. Our Dad a warrior on the football pitch, captaining club and country, a kind hearted and generous man off it, would have hated all the attention. (Well most of it).
“The stories that have been shared by strangers with us today have been enormously comforting. He touched so many people’s lives.
“We knew he had limited time, but it is still a shock. Yesterday afternoon I sat by his bed in St James Hospital Leeds and we had a debate about whether roast potatoes were better with calves liver than mash potatoes.
“That was the meal he’d decided he wanted when he went home, tomorrow. I left and went to work, he was looking forward to watching Newcastle v his beloved Leeds. He won’t go home tomorrow. But he is reunited with Daniel and that will feel like home.”
It’s not just with Logan that Keys has caused controversy in the past. In 2024, Jamie Redknapp also found himself in the firing line, as the sports pundit took aim at him, not for the first time, in a savage social media post.
Once colleagues, before Keys was sacked by Sky sports in 2011 after derogatory comments were aired, in the post last year, Keys made it clear after bumping into Redknapp that there was still bad blood between the pair.
Keys said on social media: “What a day for bumping into unpalatable people. I just saw Jamie Redknapp. Happily I needed a No2 which was much more pleasant than stopping to talk.”
The pundit also sparked controversy in 2023 when he married Lucie Rose, a woman reported to be a friend of his daughter, Jemma, following the demise of his 36-year marriage to his first wife, Julia – though that she was his daughter’s friend is something Keys has always denied.
The relationship ruffled feathers, particularly as it emerged while his ex-wife was battling cancer, and their wedding in June 2023 was attended by few family members, with his children notably absent.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply