Maria Taylor became a trending topic after a conversation between ESPN’s Rachel Nichols and a fellow peer was leaked online.
Nichols accused Taylor of being a diversity hire in the recording after she was snubbed for the NBA finals hosting gig last summer. She was speaking to LeBron James’ advisor Adam Mendelsohn.
Nichols has been dragged for filth online… so an on-air apology is most likely an attempt to secure her bag.
“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 ESPN 2’s “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.”
In the clip, Nichols says:
“I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world — she covers football, she covers basketball. 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.
“I just want them to go somewhere else — it’s in my contract, by the way; this job is in my contract in writing,” Nichols added.
Former NBA players Richard Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins, Nichols’ co-stars on “The Jump,” were supportive of her.
The video sparked outrage. While some were upset over Nichols unfounded claims, others were upset that ESPN had not taken action against Nichols before the clip went viral.
