Posted on 12/15/2017 11:27:17 AM PST by blam
A bombshell report published Thursday described sports channel ESPN's culture as one of hostility and sexual misconduct toward women.
The report by The Boston Globe specifically named several men employed by or affiliated with ESPN as being subjects of harassment complaints.
Although the sports network has been embroiled in sexual misconduct scandals and lawsuits for years, current and former employees were emboldened to speak up recently after ESPN partnered with “Barstool Sports,” a blog website that has drawn criticism for content viewed as sexist.
One blog entry proclaimed that ESPN anchor Sam Ponder’s No. 1 requirement was to “make men hard” and her “entire career and livelihood is based on appealing to guys.”
When revelations of Barstool Sports’ reputation came to light, ESPN President John Skipper abruptly canceled a jointly produced program called "Barstool Van Talk."
Mentoring as a pretext
Earlier this year, former sports anchor Adrienne Lawrence filed a complaint with the Connecticut Commissions on Human Rights and Opportunities, alleging that a culture of sexism and hostility existed at Bristol-based ESPN.
Her complaint alleged that many male colleagues used mentoring as a pretext for unwanted sexual or romantic encounters.
She accused sports anchor John Buccigross, whom she viewed as a mentor, of spreading false rumors that the two were in a sexual relationship and that he sent unsolicited shirtless selfies, and calling her “dollface,” “#dreamgirl,” and “#longlegs” in texts.
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(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
“ESPN is a journalistic organization – not a political organization. We should do nothing to undermine that position,” Merida said. “ESPN’s focus is sports. By-and-large we are not experts on politics, healthcare policies, terrorism, commerce – that’s not what we do."
“Our audience is not looking for our opinions on the general news of the day,” Merida added. “And believe me, I get it. It can sometimes be difficult to control impulses or ignore trolls, but that’s what we’re called to do for each other.”
Women reporters in the player’s locker rooms? What could go wrong?
Yeah, testosterone+ fueled aff-elites comin’ on strong? Nah.......
Lefty crazies vs lefty crazies—grab the popcorn!
ESPN should ban all men from the organization, at every level. The problems will go away....
Isn't that what American businesses have done already.
Especially White males.
“ESPN Bosses Warn Employees About Biased Social Media Posts, Claim Network is not About Politics”
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What the hell have they been doing the last several years?!?!?!?
Non Possible.
ESPN be liberal.
You mean like every other network dominated by liberal types as employees?
Wait what happened to COEXIST ESPN ??
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