Truth about ‘awful, vile’ Richard Keys: The calls and texts I’ve had about him are eye-watering reveals KATIE HIND… including ‘hand’ story I’m DESPERATE to share and how Gabby Logan really feels about him

by

New female employees at Sky Sports were routinely warned by their colleagues about Richard Keys shortly after they started working there.

His reputation for misogyny and inappropriate language was an open secret.

Honestly, even way back before everything fell apart in 2011 – you know, when he and Andy Gray thought they were off-air and made those awful, sexist comments about the female ref – the women at Sky Sports always had each other’s backs. They were a tight group, and they definitely looked out for one another. It was clear to anyone who paid attention, even then!

Even throughout the 1990s and early 2000s—a time when sexism in the media was common—a source remembers Richard Keys consistently displaying particularly extreme sexist behavior while hosting the popular Super Sunday and Champions League programs.

However, the issue for the women who worked with him was his significant power. They described him as being completely in charge, able to do anything he pleased without consequence.

A presenter, who wishes to remain anonymous, described Richard Keys as the worst person they’ve ever worked with, citing a long career in the industry. They also noted that despite his offensive language and behavior – often displayed as he and Andy Gray tried to impress each other with jokes – there was no attempt to control him.

He was a well-known figure at Sky Sports in the early 2000s, and people still talk about him today. Some prefer not to discuss him, while others remain upset by his past behavior.

Last week, women who worked with Keys, 68, were likely reminded of their difficult experiences with him when he made an insensitive online comment about Gabby Logan. This happened just hours after news broke of the death of her father, Terry Yorath, a famous Welsh footballer.

Richard Keys shared the sad news of Terry Yorath’s death on X (formerly Twitter), with the post gaining over nine million views. He described Yorath as a fierce competitor who was popular with fans everywhere he played. Keys fondly remembered Yorath’s time at Coventry City and explained that he hired Gabby Logan at Sky Sports solely because of her connection to Yorath, admitting he didn’t know her personally at the time. He ended with a tribute, saying Yorath’s daughter had made him proud.

The post caused a strong negative reaction. Laura Woods, a presenter for TNT Sports, publicly criticized Keys, using a highly offensive term. Dan Walker, who worked with Match Of The Day host Gabby at the BBC and is a friend of hers, asked Keys to consider how the post might affect Gabby or her family, suggesting he may have simply phrased it poorly and hoping it wasn’t intended as a hurtful comment during a sensitive time. He encouraged Keys to revise the post.

I’ve received a flood of calls and messages from people sharing stories about Keys. Some of these stories are incredibly shocking and can’t be published. As one person familiar with Keys put it, there’s no shortage of people willing to criticize him. I even know a story about Keys – though I can’t share it due to legal concerns – involving him getting the hair on the backs of his hands removed with laser treatment. The reason for this procedure was so funny to his coworkers, and quite painful to imagine.

After 21 years with Sky Sports, commentator Richard Keys faced consequences for his actions. In 2011, while covering a Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Liverpool game with Andy Gray, he made an offensive joke about a female official’s understanding of the offside rule and a harsh comment about her appearance.

Honestly, it was awful. After those first clips surfaced – them making those terrible, sexist comments – it just opened everything up. More and more stuff came out, including really nasty things said about Karren Brady. They had to apologize, and they both lost their jobs. Then, unbelievably, they ended up at TalkSport in 2013. And get this – I heard from someone who knows things that they managed to stay out of trouble there… not because they changed, but because, and this is the part that kills me, there weren’t any women working there! Can you believe it? It’s just… infuriating.

Currently, the two commentators are working for BeIN Sports in Qatar. One former female colleague has pointed out the irony of this situation, noting that they’ve ended up in a country known for severely limiting women’s rights. She sarcastically commented that it seems to be the only place they could find work, given the country’s patriarchal system.

But the latest comment by Keys has put him back in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

As a longtime observer of public figures, I’m following the story surrounding Gabby, and it’s interesting. Many people don’t realize she’s quite the athlete herself – she actually competed for Wales and Great Britain in rhythmic gymnastics when she was younger! She hasn’t said anything publicly yet about the recent situation, and I’m sure a lot of people are waiting to hear her perspective.

Friends say Gabby clearly dislikes Richard Keys. One friend describes her as a professional, kind, and a strong supporter of women, adding that a good relationship with Keys was never likely because she can’t stand him.

Her 2022 autobiography, The First Half, reveals a story about a difficult flight she experienced while seven months pregnant with her now 20-year-old twins. She describes the experience with commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray as particularly unpleasant.

Richard unexpectedly asked Andy, within earshot of me and other passengers in our cabin, “What are your thoughts on pregnant women?”

“Honestly, Richard, I wasn’t attracted to them at all. And, to be frank, I never had intimacy with my wife while she was pregnant.”

“So, no sex, Andy?” Keys asked. Andy responded, “I didn’t say that, Richard,” and the two of them burst into laughter, clearly enjoying their joke. I felt deeply embarrassed by their comments, especially considering they were both married with children, and I thought it was a particularly insensitive thing to say.

It wasn’t shocking to many when, in 2016, Keys ended his 34-year marriage to Julia while she was recovering from thyroid cancer. He began a relationship with Lucie-Rose, a friend of his daughter Jemma, who is 30 years younger and is now his wife.

One of Keys’ colleagues remarked that you’d expect him to have learned from past mistakes, but his recent comment about Gabby suggests otherwise.

Read More

2026-01-11 03:49