Back In December 2017, ESPN President John Skipper shocked the world of sports media when he abruptly resigned from his post after 27 years with the company citing years of substance addiction.
Skiper wrote a public statement at the time which read, in part, “I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem. I have disclosed that decision to the company, and we mutually agreed that it was appropriate that I resign. I will always appreciate the human understanding and warmth that Bob displayed here and always. I come to this public disclosure with embarrassment, trepidation and a feeling of having let others I care about down.”
Now, in a wild new interview with James Andrew Miller forThe Hollywood Reporter, Skipper, became president of ESPN in January of 2012, revealed that the reason he resigned was because of a cocaine extortion plot.
In the interview, Skipper states that he “never had an issue with alcohol,” has never used heroin or opioids, and that his cocaine use never interfered with his work.
At ESPN I did not use at work, nor with anyone at work, or with anyone I did business with. I never allowed it to interfere with my work, other than a missed plane and a few canceled morning appointments. I’ve never been a daily user. My use over the past two decades has, in fact, been quite infrequent. I judge that I did a very good job and that it did not get in the way of my work. I worked hard, I worked smart. I worked all the time.
Skipper also stated that he had no intention of resigning until the Friday before his Monday, December 18th announcement when he had a conversation with Disney CEO Bob Iger. About that day, Skipper revealed, “I want to stress that until that Friday conversation occurred, I worked with complete conviction with colleagues I loved and for a company I loved.”
When Miller pushes Skipper for more details on what happened that Friday, Skipper responded that he wasn’t sure how much he wanted to get into that. That’s when Miller pressed him further and a startling revelation was revealed.
JAM: Well, John, with all due respect, I’m a bit confused. There seems to be a big piece missing to this story. I’m looking at my notes: First, you’ve shared that you were an infrequent user of cocaine — something that could be true of others in the entertainment and media business. I’m not an expert in this area, but I’m not sure some would even call that an addiction. Second, you’ve stated categorically that your use never got in the way of your work. And third, you’ve admitted that on the days leading up to your decision to resign, you had no thoughts of resigning. None of that seems to explain why you reached the decision you had to resign.
I know this is difficult, John. I hope you understand why I’m pushing a bit here.
Skipper: In December, someone from whom I bought cocaine attempted to extort me.
This, Skipper and Iger realized, placed ESPN in an awkward position and they both agreed he should resign as President of ESPN.
“Look, it was inappropriate for the president of ESPN and an officer of The Walt Disney Co. to be associated in any way with any of this,” said Skipper. “I do want to make it clear, however, that anything I did in this regard, and anything else resulting from this, was a personal problem. My drug use never had any professional repercussions, but I still have profound regret. I accept that the consequences of my actions are my responsibility and have been appropriate. I also have to accept that I used very poor judgment.”
As for what he thinks of ESPN replacing him with Jimmy Pitaro?
“He’s a good, smart executive. His style will work at ESPN,” answered Skipper.” I wish him well, and (laughs) I hope he does better than the last guy!”
Check out the entire interview over at The Hollywood Reporter.