The captain of Birmingham’s College Problem group confronted an onslaught of on-line criticism after showing to disregard the one feminine member of his group throughout final night time’s episode.
Michael Joel Bartelle, from San Antonio in Texas confronted a large backlash on social media following yesterday’s quarter-final, which noticed Studying College beat Birmingham with 170 factors to 135.
Viewers accused the US scholar of ‘completely blanking’ his feminine teammate, Jamie Sajit, by continuously turning his again on her – preferring to talk solutions by together with his male co-quizzers as an alternative.
This is not the primary time Bartelle has been accused of dismissing his feminine teammate, with viewers taking to social media to vent their frustration after the group’s first look in December.
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The captain of Birmingham ‘s College Problem group confronted an onslaught of on-line criticism on after showing to disregard the one feminine member of his group throughout final night time’s episode
Unimpressed viewers of final night time’s episode had been fast to take to Twitter with their views, with one accusing the male group members ‘chauvinistic’ for ignoring Sajit, whereas others known as the episode ‘toe-curling’ and ‘awkward’.
‘Moderately happy Studying received that. OK, I studied there, however principally as a result of Bartelle thinks he solely has two different lad brains on the group…toe-curling,’ wrote one unimpressed viewer.
‘Reckon they need to simply go the entire hog and match a blind to Bartelle’s plexiglass on Sajit’s aspect,’ mentioned one other.
‘What a fantastic match, solely marred by Bartelle completely blanking one in all his personal group! #UniversityChallenge’, commented a 3rd.
Unimpressed viewers of final night time’s episode had been fast to take to Twitter with their views, with one accusing the male group members ‘chauvinistic’ for ignoring Sajit, whereas others known as the episode ‘toe-curling’ and ‘awkward’
’10 factors for this… “Who’s going to be ignored and blatantly dismissed in tonight’s competitors by the group chief of Birmingham?”,’ joked one other viewer.
Bartelle, who’s doing a PHD in Shakespeare research, was accused of ignoring drugs scholar Jamie, from Derby, following his final look in December and took to Twitter to defend himself.
Dismissing the accusations, he wrote: ‘Hey everybody. I don’t discriminate. When conferring, I flip to any of my teammates if they provide a solution. I like all of them and they’re all wonderful quizzers. Plenty of like to all who’ve had heat feedback for our group.’
He added: ‘I’m probably not positive what I can say apart from that I thought-about each single reply that was supplied by all three of my teammates. All of them contributed massively to our win and I’m pleased with all of them.’
Bartelle, who’s doing a PHD in Shakespeare Research, was accused of ignoring Medication scholar Jamie, from Derby, throughout their first look on the present in December. The pair are pictured throughout final night time’s episode
Nonetheless Bartelle, pictured throughout final night time’s episode, denied allegations of sexism insisting he does ‘not discriminate’
Pals additionally rallied to the quizzer’s defence, with fellow contestant Fatima writing: ‘Michael Bartelle is a delight and has been astoundingly supportive of my quizzing. I am all for declaring sexism, however this ain’t it chief #UniversityChallenge’
Former contestant on the present, James Devine-Stoneman, agreed, tweeting: ‘Simply approaching right here to say that Birmingham’s Bartelle is a superb man and the Twitter jury must f*** all the best way off.’
He added: ‘Good lesson in how taking a selective screenshot plus the appropriate narrative could make anybody look terrible. Full nonsense. I used to be accused of the identical once I was on. Do not move judgement folks you see on display for half an hour.’
Elsewhere on the Birmingham group was Mark McParlan, from Liverpool, who’s finding out Historical past and English and John Robinson, from Sevenoaks, finding out for a masters in Literature and Tradition.
One viewer turned so pissed off by Bartelle’s obvious dismissive angle in direction of Sajit throughout their look in December, they mentioned they ‘have not been ready to take a look at the display’
As the educational competitors heats up viewer favourites have additionally emerged, together with final night time’s Studying Captain, Michael Hutchinson who was hailed a ‘standout participant’ after his first look in August final 12 months.
Hutchinson, a Maths PGCE scholar, from Andover, was praised after he received eight Starter for Ten questions accurately and in addition answered six bonus questions with out the assistance of his group and an extra three assisted.
Elsewhere on the Studying group was Alex Skopic, who’s finding out for a Masters in English Literature, Margaret Ounsley, finding out for a PhD in Historical past, and Sylvian Jesudoss who’s finding out for a PhD in Advertising.