I wouldn't go so far as to say it's offensive, but I can agree it's disrespectful. Respect is shown by the lengths someone goes through to demonstrate someone/ something is important and held in high regard.

Examples:

When you are talking to someone you respect, you demonstrate it by making a point to convey that you are listening to them and thinking about what they are saying.

When a tragedy happens, we often show respect by holding a moment of silence where we interrupt whatever we are doing to hold a moment to think about the victims.

Similarly, a traditional way of demonstrating respect for people's contributions in a given field is through an awards ceremony where attendees both given their attention and dress in formal attire to mark the significance and importance of the event.