Rachel Nichols, the white journalist who was caught claiming that her co-worker received opportunities because she’s Black, was just pulled from NBA coverage. In addition, ESPN has canceled her show The Jump, leaving her constructively terminated.
Sports Business Journal reported that Nichols was informed this week that her employer had decided to take her off all NBA programming and end The Jump.
Nichols confirmed the news on Twitter.
Got to create a whole show and spend five years hanging out with some of my favorite people ❤️ talking about one my favorite things 🏀 An eternal thank you to our amazing producers & crew – The Jump was never built to last forever but it sure was fun. 😎
More to come… pic.twitter.com/FPMFRlfJin— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) August 25, 2021
Nichols has had a very interesting year. She was caught on tape complaining to a sports agent that her former co-worker, Maria Taylor, only received the coveted NBA Finals assignment because she is Black.
Although she apologized, her contrived contrition did not pay off.
Though Nichols was not immediately disciplined for her comments, the long hand of journalistic justice has stretched forth.
Although Nichols still has a year left on her contract, the New York Post reported that she had been effectively terminated, and ESPN will pay her the remaining $2 million while she quietly goes away.
ESPN appears to be course-correcting its tepid response to the racial comments that were revealed. The move is arguably late in coming, but situations like this have a way of coming full circle.
“We mutually agreed that this approach regarding our NBA coverage was best for all concerned,” said ESPN Senior VP/Production David Roberts. He went on to say that Nichols is an excellent host and journalist and thanked her for her service.
Nichols was with ESPN from 2003-2014 and then returned in 2016.
