ESPN Pulls Rachel Nichols From All NBA Programming
ESPN has pulled Rachel Nichols from all NBA programming and will cancel The Jump, as first reported by John Ourand of Sports Business Journal.
ESPN Senior VP/Production Dave Roberts told SBJ this regarding the situation:
“We mutually agreed that this approach regarding our NBA coverage was best for all concerned. Rachel is an excellent reporter, host and journalist, and we thank her for her many contributions to our NBA content.”
VIA Sports Business Journal
The move by ESPN comes on the heels of Rachel’s publicized comments last month regarding then-ESPN colleague Maria Taylor. In a conversation with sports PR executive Adam Mendelsohn last year in the NBA “Bubble” in Orlando, Nichols complained about Taylor being chosen to host pregame and postgame coverage of the 2020 NBA Finals and alleged that the latter received the assignment because of her race.
Nichols did issue a public apology to Taylor on air last month saying:
“I also didn’t want to let this moment pass without saying how much I respect and how much I value our colleagues here at ESPN, how deeply, deeply sorry I am for disappointing those I hurt—particularly Maria Taylor—, and how grateful I am to be part of this outstanding team.”
VIA Complex
Per SBJ, Nichols remains under contract with ESPN for another year, but it is unlikely that she will make any on-air appearances during that time.
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