Sky Sports drops Halo TikTok channel after backlash over ‘patronising’ female-focused content

Sky Sports shuts down its Halo TikTok page after widespread criticism from women who found the branding stereotypical

Sky Sports has shut down its newly launched TikTok channel “Halo” only three days after unveiling the platform, following widespread criticism that the initiative appeared condescending toward female sports fans. The broadcaster confirmed on Saturday night that it had stopped all activity on the page, which it had promoted as the “lil sis” of Sky Sports.

 

In a statement viewed more than 150,000 times, Sky acknowledged misjudging the tone of the project. “Our intention for Halo was to create a space alongside our existing channel for new, young, female fans,” the post read. “We’ve listened. We didn’t get it right. As a result we’re stopping all activity on this account. We’re learning and remain as committed as ever to creating spaces where fans feel included and inspired.”

The platform came under immediate scrutiny after its launch, with early promotional posts describing Halo as a TikTok channel “created specifically for female sports fans” and aiming to highlight “culture, community and connection.” Critics argued that the branding—including pink fonts, references to matcha lattes, Labubu toys, and “hot girl walks”—reinforced stereotypes rather than offering genuine sports coverage.

One widely shared example of the channel’s tone involved a clip featuring New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, an Arsenal supporter, captioned: “Thinking about Zohran Mamdani rizzing us and Arsenal up.” Users labelled the content juvenile and dismissive, prompting Sky to delete the initial post and disable comments.

Prominent voices in women’s sports media also condemned the approach. GirlsOnTheBall, a leading women’s football platform, criticised the aesthetic and messaging, saying female fans were long past “the pink/peach stage” and that the channel failed to reflect what women actually wanted from sports coverage.

Sky’s withdrawal marks a significant reversal for the broadcaster, which had initially promoted Halo as an inclusive platform designed to amplify female voices in sport. The company has not indicated whether a revised version of the concept will return.