Video Leaked Of ESPN’s Rachel Nichols Making Disparaging Comments About Fellow Host Maria Taylor

The New York Times dropped a bomb on ESPN today after a video was leaked of Rachel Nichols making disparaging comments about the selection of Maria Taylor for a key job.

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Nichols is currently one of the hosts of ESPN’s The Jump, and is front and center during many NBA conversations on the network.

Maria Taylor is also an analyst with ESPN who is mid-contract dispute after she reportedly turned down an offer from ESPN and was asking for Stephen A. Smith money.

A video showing the ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols making disparaging comments about the selection of Maria Taylor for a key job has caused substantial damage at the network the past year. @kevinmdraper on the video and its fallout: https://t.co/jo5XQAZiAF

— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) July 4, 2021

“The only person known to be punished was Kayla Johnson, a digital video producer who told ESPN Human Resources that she had sent the video to Taylor.

Johnson, who is Black, was suspended for two weeks without pay” pic.twitter.com/z0cyOp9yQy

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 4, 2021

This is one of the worst parts of the article imo pic.twitter.com/TXu2jZj02u

— bimbos in outer space (endwalker edition) (@southernhoshit) July 4, 2021

Nothing about this situation feels good for either party.

“Multiple Black ESPN employees said they told one another after hearing the conversation that it confirmed their suspicions that outwardly supportive white people talk differently behind closed doors.”

Many are suspecting some repercussions for the comments and expect ESPN to try and track some of the names down while using some as scapegoats.

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