ESPN fires reporter Marly Rivera for calling journalist Ivon Gaete 'fuc**** cu**' on camera
THE BRONX, NEW YORK: ESPN reportedly fired baseball reporter Marly Rivera because of a remark she made toward another reporter. Rivera has been accused of saying the words "fuc**** cu**" toward a female reporter over an interview with Aaron Judge. The incident took place last Tuesday, April 18, at Yankee Stadium.
Rivera and fellow reporter Ivon Gaete had a dispute after Gaete, too, arrived to interview Judge before the Yankees-Angels game. According to Rivera, she had already set up an appointment with Judge but Gaete ignored it when she was informed about it. During the disagreement, Rivera used the cuss words that led to her termination. “She no longer works here,” ESPN told New York Post in a statement.
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'I fully accept responsibility for what I said'
The incident was recorded on camera. Rivera later tried to apologize, but Gaete refused to accept it. "I fully accept responsibility for what I said, which I should not have,” Rivera told New York Post. “There were extenuating circumstances but that in no way is an excuse for my actions. I am a professional with a sterling reputation across baseball and I do believe that I am being singled out by a group of individuals with whom I have a long history of professional disagreements.”
Gaete is the wife of John Blundell, MLB vice president of communications. A freelance reporter, she was on assignment in town for Tokyo Broadcasting, with Shohei Ohtani. Rivera said that in the past, she and Blundell had some disagreements, which is why the situation escalated.
Who is Marly Rivera?
A sportswriter and reporter, Rivera previously worked for ESPN and ESPN Deportes. She was also a contributor to ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio. She was named one of 'The 30 Most Influential Hispanics in Sports' by Sports Illustrated on October 13, 2017.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rivera is bilingual. Her parents, Ray and Elba, are from the town of Coamo. Rivera has reportedly done philanthropic work to support Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc in September 2017.
Previous firings by ESPN
ESPN has previously fired employees including host Rachel Nichols, whose show, 'The Jump,' was canceled after she was removed from all NBA programming. Her termination in 2021 came after a phone call that was recorded revealed she said a black colleague only got a gig because of her race.
Years back, in 2012, ESPN fired an employee who wrote an offensive headline about basketball sensation Jeremy Lin. It also suspended an anchor who used the same ethnic slur. The headline read 'Chink in the Armor,' which referred to New York Knicks’ 89-85 loss to the New Orleans Hornets at the time. The phrase has two meanings, one of which is an ethnic slur.