#FreeWoj trends as NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski gets suspended for saying 'F**k you' to senator Josh Hawley
ESPN basketball reporter Adrian Wojnarowski has apologized after allegedly sending a profanity-riddled email to Missouri Senator Josh Hawley. In a statement on Friday, July 10, Wojnarowski said he was "disrespectful and made a regrettable mistake". Wojnarowski also apologized to his ESPN colleagues, saying "I know my actions were unacceptable."
Hawley had sent a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver asking why the NBA does not permit phrases like "Support Our Troops" and "Back the Blue" on their jerseys in 2020. He also questioned the league’s relationship with China. Hours later, Hawley shared a screenshot of an email in which Adrian used his ESPN account to respond to Hawley’s press release with "F**k you."
ESPN issued the following statement: "This is completely unacceptable behavior and we do not condone it. It is inexcusable for anyone working for ESPN to respond in the way Adrian did to Senator Hawley. We are addressing it directly with Adrian and specifics of those conversations will remain internal." In light of these events, ESPN has reportedly now suspended Adrian, according to The Outpick, and their spokesperson has declined to comment on the matter.
Twitterati is rather stunned with this decision and have taken to the micro-blogging site to express their opinions. "All he said was 'f**k you', he’s literally the best sports insider. @espn lame for this. #FreeWoj," one wrote. Others said that he did nothing wrong and began to get #FreeWoj trending. "#FreeWoj for standing up for a movement he believes in," another wrote.
"#FreeWoj because the only people who think that he did something wrong look like this," a person wrote, sharing a gif. "Woj did nothing wrong, shameful of the suits at ESPN cowering down to a racist senator... #FreeWoj," another tweeted.
Others labeled it as "unacceptable" and wrote that he had done nothing wrong. "2020 is really the worst Imagine suspending WOJ Why are you taking my WOJ bombs away from me #Freewoj," one person wrote. Another echoed similar sentiments and said that the year has been quite a rollercoaster and they've lost Woj too. "This is some bullshit, do better," another angry person on Twitter wrote. The length of the suspension has not been declared yet.