Rachel Nichols has broken her silence amid the leaked audio drama at ESPN.
On Sunday the NY Times released a recording of a private conversation in which Nichols could be heard calling ESPN colleague Maria Taylor a “diversity” hire after she was awarded the NBA finals hosting gig in the summer of 2020.
Rachel Nichols: “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.” pic.twitter.com/aB5MifujuX
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 4, 2021
“I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world — she covers football, she covers basketball,” Nichols said in July 2020. “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.”
During Monday’s edition of ESPN’s ‘The Jump’ an emotional Nichols addressed the leaked audio recording and apologized to her ESPN colleagues including Maria Taylor for her comments.
A teary-eyed Rachel Nichols addresses leaked audio in which calls Maria Taylor a "diversity" hire…Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson comment on the situation as well pic.twitter.com/n00DSiHBMw
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) July 5, 2021
“The first thing they teach you in journalism school is don’t be the story and I don’t plan on breaking 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, 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.’