ESPN is facing a PR nightmare!
Not long after they came under fire for a controversial fantasy football sketch following the Charlottesville violence, they’re facing way more heat for their latest decision.
It’s been revealed the sports network decided to pull broadcaster Robert Lee off the September 2 University of Virginia college football game in Charlottesville because of his name’s similarity to Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general.
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After the news leaked, ESPN released a statement via spokesman Derek Volner:
“We collectively made the decision with Robert to switch games as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding, simply because of the coincidence of his name. In that moment it felt right to all parties. It’s a shame that this is even a topic of conversation and we regret that who calls play by play for a football game has become an issue.”
An unnamed ESP exec elaborated:
Just received this email from an ESPN executive re the Robert Lee controversy. pic.twitter.com/OuBORlWO9f
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 23, 2017
Their attempt to not draw attention to Robert completely backfired! The young broadcaster is now trending on Twitter!!
You better believe the Internet is feeling some type of way about it:
So ESPN is removing a reporter named Robert Lee from a University of VA football game. Ok I think they missed the point. It isn’t the name!
— Greg Lage (@TheLagestweets) August 23, 2017
What’s so dumb is that if ESPN just lets Robert Lee announce the game he’s scheduled to announce, maybe 3 dudes on Twitter notice & it dies.
— Dylan John Seaton🌹 (@DylanJohnSeaton) August 23, 2017
I stand with Robert Lee, the @espn announcer, not the general.
— T (@TubingTyler) August 23, 2017
Come on @espn … how are you gonna remove Robert Lee from commentating a game in VA?!? He don’t even have the “E” ├░┼╕ΓäóΓÇ₧#ESPN #GoneTooFar
— Nikki Dixon (@ImNikkiDixon) August 23, 2017
ESPN made it clear they went to Robert about the situation, but the decision doesn’t seem to have anyone happy.
Anyway, what do U think ESPN should have done??
[Image via Twitter.]
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