Pat McAfee says ESPN employees not allowed on his show; ESPN responds (updated)
Update: ESPN has responded to a media inquiry regarding McAfee’s Friday comments.
UPDATE:
From ESPN: “We didn’t intend to ban ESPN guests from the show & there is certainly no ban going forward. We are in the midst of figuring out the best process for future guests to appear on outside platforms & Pat will continue to make regular appearances on ESPN shows.” https://t.co/av41XMZOGH
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 13, 2021
Original story:
In 2019, Pat McAfee was a popular addition to ESPN’s “College GameDay.” His relationship with the World Wide Leader, however, seems to have changed.
On Friday, McAfee shared that ESPN employees are no longer allowed on his show, citing a “new mandate.”
It was a good run..
SHAHT AHT to all my friends that used to be able to come on the show #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/imek79iVUl
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 12, 2021
ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky, a regular guest of McAfee’s mentioned in the video clip, replied to McAfee’s tweet.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 12, 2021
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 12, 2021
McAfee’s show broadcasts on SiriusXM and YouTube. He says he got a text and follow-up call informing him of the news. In the video, McAfee was asked if this means he won’t go on ESPN anymore.
“Well, now, yeah, do I have to? I guess I would because I spent a million dollars traveling around the country working for that company. So I guess I would have to maybe not go on their thing ever again, too,” McAfee said as he processed the situation.
McAfee reflected on working with ESPN in another clip from Friday’s show.
That’s officially the last appearance right there #ThatsBusinessBaby #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/2WbCqewUpa
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 12, 2021
Richard Deitsch, The Athletic’s sports media reporter, tweeted Friday that he had reached out to ESPN about McAfee.
I’ve asked ESPN about @PatMcAfeeShow saying there’s a mandate about no ESPN employees allowed on his show.
If this turns out to be true — I’ll wait to see what they say — this would be an example of spectacularly dumb decision-making and self-inflicted bad PR.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 12, 2021
For now, it sounds like college football fans won’t be seeing McAfee on GameDay this fall.
