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Charissa Thompson is catching heat over her admission that she made up sideline reports.
On Thursday, Thompson went on Pardon My Take and revealed that she would completely make up NFL sideline reports out of thin air when she couldn’t get access to team coaches at halftime.
“I’ve said this before, “I haven’t been fired for saying it, but I’ll say it again. I would make up the report sometimes because A.) the coach wouldn’t come out at halftime, or it was too late and I didn’t want to screw up the report. So I was like, ‘I’m just gonna make this up.’
Charissa Thompson confesses she makes up sideline reports pic.twitter.com/vEZOecPTXo
— The Famous Man (@famousnbamilz) November 16, 2023
Thompson immediately got slammed by ESPN’s Molly McGrath, but other sideline reporters are coming to crush her over her comments.
Longtime NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya said she was saddened by Thompson’s admission.
“Honestly, this makes me sad. Charissa is a nice person, but this is professional fraud. If a coach won’t talk to you at halftime, you say that. And if there is no report, then you just don’t file a report at half time. It’s pretty simple. journalistic integrity is paramount.”
CBS Sports sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson also blasted Thompson on social media.
“This is absolutely not ok, not the norm and upsetting on so many levels. I take my job very seriously, I hold myself accountable for all I say, I build trust with coaches and never make something up. I know my fellow reporters do the same.”
Thompson worked Thursday Night’s Ravens-Bengals game and has yet to address the controversy.