Pat McAfee Responds to Accusations of Causing ESPN's Major Job Cuts (TWEET)
Pat McAfee has publicly addressed the storm of criticism surrounding him following ESPN's sweeping layoffs.
Just recently, ESPN released a slew of beloved and high-profile on-air personalities from their lineup. Among those given their walking papers were industry veterans such as Suzy Kolber with 27 years under her belt, alongside Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, Todd McShay, Matt Hasselbeck, Steve Young, Keyshawn Johnson, and Max Kellerman.
Earlier in February, Disney's head honcho, CEO Bob Iger, had declared that the company planned to axe 7,000 jobs as part of a massive cost-cutting strategy. Amid this backdrop, ESPN shelled out an impressive $85 million for a five-year deal to secure McAfee's services.
Understandably, this move sparked outrage among fans who decried ESPN's willingness to splurge on McAfee while ruthlessly severing ties with numerous key talents. In response to the ensuing online furor, the former NFL punter took to Twitter to make his feelings known. Here's what he had to say:
Despite the widespread uproar, it's worth noting that McAfee isn't in any way responsible for ESPN's job cuts. In fact, Iger had already flagged the impending layoffs months prior to ESPN's decision to snatch McAfee from FanDuel.
At the same time, it's easy to empathize with sports fans' frustration at ESPN's choices. Replacing such a well-rounded and experienced lineup of talents, including industry stalwarts like Kolber, Van Gundy, and Kellerman, will be no small task for the sports broadcasting titan.
Despite the cost of acquiring McAfee, who is currently one of the hottest names in sports media, ESPN is banking on his popularity to drive viewership and strengthen its ratings. Time will tell if this gamble pays off.
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2 JUILLET | 49 ANSWERS Pat McAfee Responds to Accusations of Causing ESPN's Major Job Cuts (TWEET) Is Pat McAfee a good reporter? | ||
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