ESPN president John Skipper weighs in on the Robert Lee, Charlottesville controversy
On Tuesday, news broke that ESPN broadcaster Robert Lee had been taken off an assignment calling a Virginia football game in Charlottesville because he shares a name with confederate general Robert E. Lee.
That sparked quite the controversy on social media and, really, everywhere else, as many questioned why his name mattered so much.
On Wednesday, ESPN president John Skipper weighed in on the matter, releasing an internal statement to employees about why the decision was made to switch Lee’s assignment:
ESPN's John Skipper weighs in pic.twitter.com/j7P9McZ7KE
— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) August 24, 2017
As you can see in Skipper’s memo, the possibility of Lee facing “social hectoring and trolling” was a big part of the decision to move him, as was Lee’s own personal preference.
Virginia will open the season on Saturday, Sept. 2, with a home game against William and Mary, but Lee won’t be at that game.
Instead, he’ll be in Pittsburgh, calling the Pitt-Youngstown State season opener.
ESPN should demand this announcer change his name or be fired for being a racist.
Do a little research on Robert (Bob) Ley… That’s a man ESPN trots out there everyday and has never had an issue. This is clearly a racist move by MSESPN… Maybe they should remember this instance when they constantly shove Colin Kaepernick down our throats, when Tim Tebow was treated no different by NFL owners. Did anyone cry foul then? The double standard in this country is disgusting….
My comment was sarcastic, I understand the ESPN liberal Political Correctness and the move is embarrassing.
Sarcasm is racist, because former slave owners used it. I am offended.
Why Bob Ley? This issue is about Robert Lee. Not the same guy. Completely made up issue anyway.
ESPN just keeps looking worse. So now they are saying Robert Lee is a snowflake. And they think this makes it better.
ESPN is upset with everyone making this political for their own agenda but I guess they don’t care that they do the same thing on a daily basis?
He contradicted himself, shocking. He says it was routine, then says because of these divisive times the production staff approached Robert Lee. That’s anything but routine and is the only reason anyone is talking about him. Libtards. If anyone intentionally hijacked the situation for a personal agenda, it was ESPN.
I love college football. I live for Saturdays in the fall, and especially the ones down south. It is a shame that espn has to interject political crap into everything.
Very stupid move by the liberal Political ESPN. How come I’m not surprised something like this happened with them. Ridiculous!!
ESPN has a history of left wing lunacy. Saying there was never any concern in one paragraph and then saying there was concern just shows how stupid ESPN has become. Too bad there is not a suitable alternative to watching their weak broadcasts.