ESPN has pulledRachel Nichols fromNBA finals sideline coverage.- The move comes after leaked audio revealed Nichols downplayed the accomplishments of a Black colleague.
- Nichols, who apologized for her comments, will still host her show "The Jump."
ESPN has pulled Rachel Nichols from its NBA Finals sideline coverage after leaked audio revealed Nichols downplayed the accomplishments of a Black colleague, ESPN told The New York Times.
The audio, first reported on by The Times on Sunday, featured Nichols accusing ESPN of promoting host Maria Taylor, who is Black, to increase diversity.
The Times reported that Nichols made the comment in July 2020 while unintentionally being recorded on a camera that feeds into ESPN's control room.
"I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world - she covers football, she covers basketball," Nichols said in the recording. "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."
Nichols apologized for her comment at the opening of her show "The Jump" on Monday.
"The first thing they teach you in journalism school is don't be the story. And I don't plan to break that rule today or distract from a fantastic Finals but I also don't want to let this moment pass without saying how much I respect, how much I value our colleagues here at ESPN," she said. "How deeply, deeply sorry I am for disappointing those I hurt, particularly Maria Taylor, and how grateful I am to be a part of this outstanding team."
In a statement, ESPN said Malika Andrews would be replacing Nichols in sideline coverage, and said that Nichols would continue to host "The Jump."
"We believe this is the best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals," ESPN said.