ESPN announced on Tuesday that Malika Andrews has now replaced Rachel Nichols as the sports network’s sideline reporter.
“We believe this is best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals. Rachel will continue to host The Jump,” ESPN said in a statement.
Nichols found herself at the center of a media firestorm when a video of her accusing Maria Taylor of landing her job with the network purely as a diversity hire and not for her talents found its way to The New York Times.
“I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world — she covers football, she covers basketball,” Nichols said in a Disney hotel room last year.
“If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away.”
She added, “I just want them to go somewhere else — it’s in my contract, by the way; this job is in my contract in writing.”
In a bid to save her job, Nichols issued an apology to Taylor live on-air.
“So, the first thing they teach you in journalism school is don’t be the story. And I don’t plan to break that rule today or distract from a fantastic Finals,” Nichols said on Monday’s episode of “The Jump.”
“But I also don’t want to let this moment pass without saying how much I respect, 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.”
Taylor is yet to address the controversy.
