Featured Image Credit: Sky News/ YouTube/aGameScout
Topics: US News, World News, Gaming
Emily Brown
A news anchor has sparked backlash over the critical comments she made towards a 13-year-old who became the first known person to 'beat' Tetris.
Oklahoma teenager Willis Gibson made headlines this week when he appeared to successfully complete the game, which froze when he reached level 157 and his score read '999999'.
Previously, only bots powered by artificial intelligence had been able to reach the level where blocks fall so fast that the game itself can't continue, so it's no surprise Gibson burst into a shocked celebration when he managed it for himself.
"Oh my God! Yes!," the young teen said, before adding: "I’m going to pass out. I can’t feel my hands."
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Gibson's success quickly went viral, and his reaction was broadcast on Sky News as anchor Jayne Secker reported on the story.
Secker explained how Gibson completed Tetris on the original Nintendo version of the game, but after his reaction was broadcast she added her own thoughts on his success.
Secker said: "As a mother, I would just say 'step away from the screen, go outside, get some fresh air'. Beating Tetris is not a life goal."
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The anchor laughed as she made her comments, indicating she was only joking, but she's been hit with backlash after her coverage went viral.
One frustrated viewer wrote: "It is the Year of Our Lord 2024 and @SkyNews is still telling people who play video games to go outside and get some fresh air..."
Another added: "The smugness just makes my blood boil. Not understanding it is one thing, but to undermine a a [sic] 13 year old for achieving a world record on a video game and present it in that way on national TV is just downright embarrassing."
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Bhavina Bharkhada, the head of communications at the UK Games Industry Trade Body, joined the conversation to point out that Gibson might not have been mocked if he'd succeeded in another game.
"What's bonkers about how this has been covered is if it was, say a child chess champion, we'd all be celebrating - they'd even be invited to Downing Street to play chess," she wrote.
Secker does not appear to have publicly responded to the criticism at the time of writing (4 January).
Her comments about Gibson came just before she promoted coverage surrounding 16-year-old darts player Luke Littler, who this week made it to the final of the World Darts Championship final.
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UNILAD has contacted Sky News for comment.