Photo Credit: Mike Windle/Stringer/Getty Images
ESPN tried to do something good but instead made fools out of themselves.
The network had sports announcer Robert Lee removed from the UVA game and reassigned to a different project.
In the wake of Charlottesville and the removal of the Confederate Army general Robert E. Lee’s statue, the sports network (I’m assuming) wanted to be sensitive of the latest political events but it backfired on them because social media went in!
ESPN’s official statement: “We collectively made the decision with Robert to switch games as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding, simply because of the coincidence of his name. In That moment it felt right to all parties. It’s a shame that this is even at opic of conversation and we regret that who calls play by play for a football game has become an issue.”
Um, well duh ESPN.
But, an ESPN executive explained the reason behind his reassignment and it was in fact a mutual decision:
Just received this email from an ESPN executive re the Robert Lee controversy. pic.twitter.com/OuBORlWO9f
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 23, 2017
Either way, social media is letting them have it! America y’all.
ESPN has pulled Robert Lee from announcing UVA’s football game because he has a Confederate general’s name. https://t.co/pyjy8D1Ryt pic.twitter.com/7cMIGgRGo9
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) August 23, 2017
#RobertLee General Robert Lee heading out to announce the Union vs Rebel Football Game: pic.twitter.com/RxzKjhBD8f
— Scared Goat (@ScaredGoat) August 23, 2017
ESPN hates racism so much that they’re punishing an Asian guy for having an Asian last-name. #RobertLee @espn
— Ken Webster Jr (@ProducerKen) August 23, 2017
ESPN hates racism so much that they’re punishing an Asian guy for having an Asian last-name. #RobertLee @espn
— Ken Webster Jr (@ProducerKen) August 23, 2017
Spot the family resemblance?#RobertLee pic.twitter.com/ARR0RlXIxA
— Salty Frog (@0111KEK0111) August 23, 2017
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