ESPN’s Michelle Beadle And CNN’s Rachel Nichols have both apparently been banned by the Mayweather camp from attending the upcoming Mayweather-Pacquiao fight at the MGM Grand.
I, along with @Rachel__Nichols, have been banned from the MGM Grand Arena for the fight tonight by the Mayweather camp. #TheFightGame
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
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No fight for me or @MichelleDBeadle. Mayweather's team told my producer the camp was blocking my credential. https://t.co/JTjjXadPp8
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 2, 2015
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It’s likely they were banned for criticizing Floyd Mayweather in the past over his history of domestic abuse.
Michelle Beadle has been very outspoken on Twitter about Mayweather’s problems with domestic abuse. Rachel Nichols grilled Mayweather in an interview last year on her CNN show unguarded.
Update #4
Rachel Nichols explained how the Mayweather camp denied her credentials several times before fight night.
UPDATE # 3
After much speculation, it turns out Beadle and Nichols were indeed banned by Mayweather promotions, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap.
Per source, Mayweather promotions blocked Beadle last night. Top Rank appealed to Moonves, who had decision reversed at about 1030 pm.
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) May 2, 2015
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Also, source says Nichols was blocked, decision also reversed, but she now won't go.
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) May 2, 2015
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UPDATE #1:
Mayweather’s PR rep Kelly Swanson says that Mayweather’s camp never denied Beadle or Nichols press credentials.
No one including ME banned @Rachel__Nichols from covering the fight. She is already credentialed. #Facts
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
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And @MichelleDBeadle isn't even on the press list. She's credentialed through @HBOboxing. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
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Bonnie Bernstein confirmed that Beadle’s HBO press credential has “just been” cleared
HBO source confirms @MichelleDBeadle's credential has just been cleared for Mayweather fight. Not sure about @Rachel__Nichols
— Bonnie Bernstein (@BonnieBernstein) May 2, 2015
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Sports Illustrated Chris Mannix reported that USA Today’s Martin Rogers press credentials were revoked
In addition to banning @Rachel__Nichols and @MichelleDBeadle, Mayweather declined to credential @mrogersUSAT, who has written great DV stuff
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) May 2, 2015
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UPDATE #2
Michelle Beadle said her credentials were revoked before being re-approved.
After hearing my credential was pulled, I went home. Told this morning that HBO was able to get it re-approved late last night.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
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Chris Mannix is reporting that two people from CNN were credentialed and that Rachel Nichols was not one of them.
SI has obtained a copy of most recent seating chart circulated by promoters. Two CNN talent listed as credentialed. @Rachel__Nichols is not.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) May 2, 2015
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There are still a lot of moving parts and we’ll continue to update the story as it unfolds.
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