Has Rachel Nichols found a new job? Sacked ESPN anchor posts cryptic message
Former ESPN host Rachel Nichols shared a cryptic message on her Instagram Story after it was reported that a settlement has been reached between her and the network, and she is free to work anywhere elsewhere. The 48-year-old journalist posted a slide of three photographs on her now-disappeared social media story that showed a sunset over the ocean. She wrote over the pictures “Going, going, GONE."
As per a report by The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand, Nichols and the sports channel finalized a settlement on Thursday, January 6, after the former one was fired from her job over “her private comments about diversity at the network were made public in July 2021.” Nichols’ contract with ESPN required her to work with it for one more year, but after the fallout, she has been released permanently.
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The sports reporter has not yet officially released a statement after the latest development, but it seems she was in a good mood as she shared the social media post. Her issues with ESPN started in July 2021 when The New York Times released the audio-video. The July 2020 audio revealed that she was on a phone call with LeBron James’ PR advisor Adam Mendelsohn and apparently told him that the network chose the Black sports analyst Maria Taylor to host its NBA coverage in 2020, over her because it was “feeling pressure” about its “crappy longtime record on diversity.”
Only two audio bits released from the call showed Nichols telling Mendelsohn: “I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world — she covers football, she covers basketballs 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.”
The leaked call record also showed Mendelsohn in a bad light, who was heard saying, “I don’t know. I’m exhausted. Between Me Too and Black Lives Matter, I got nothing left.” He also slammed ESPN for putting two women against each other. He added: “About how it’s just so very white male for them to turn two women on each other to compete over the one spot that they’re dangling over them. A broader conversation about all the spots that should be under consideration.”
However, Mendelsohn later apologized saying, “I made a stupid, careless comment rooted in privilege and I am sincerely sorry. I shouldn’t have said it or even thought it. I work to support these movements and know that the people affected by these issues never get to be exhausted or have nothing left. I have to continue to check my privilege and work to be a better ally.”
Meanwhile, Nichols has not yet revealed what she is planning to do next. When she was with ESPN, her annual income was reportedly $1.5 million to $2 million. However, after leaving the network, she’s been quite active on social media, chronicling her travels with family and friends.