Prominent ESPN anchor Rachel Nichols, known for her NBA coverage, is facing backlash after she was caught on camera discussing how she could prevent a co-worker, female anchor Maria Taylor from taking over her job during the NBA finals.
The conversation took place between her and LeBron James’ publicist—Adam Mendelsohn, last year, and the news was revealed via an exposé by the New York Times, where they highlighted all the various changes at ESPN.
The leaked video allegedly stems from a convo in a hotel room in May 2020, where Nichols was working out of during the NBA Playoffs due to the pandemic. The snippet finds Nichols venting to Mendelsohn about ESPN approaching her with sideline reporting for the 2020 NBA Finals instead of hosting. Usually, Nichols and Maria Taylor—a black woman, split the duties.
Nichols noted the passed on the offer from ESPN, as it would make way for Taylor to take over the hosting gig full-time. Nichols then went on to say, “If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity -- which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it -- like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away." Listen above.
source: TMZ
