ESPN Rachel Nichols was recently exposed with an audio clip. A clip where she made comments on her Black co-worker Maria Taylor.
The New York Times recently obtained and released the footage in which Rachel Nichols expressed her feelings on her co-worker, Maria Taylor. The article, which is linked above, contains the conversation Nichols had with longtime adviser Adam Mendelsohn.
The conversation happened around mid-July last year amid the pandemic. And Nichols was staying at the Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida. Quarantined in her room for seven days. During this time she had a camera to still be able to film for the ESPN show “The Jump.” A show she has done since 2016.
But throughout this time she was keeping an eye out for hosting duties for ESPN pregame and postgame shows. Meaning that this is one of the most important shows for ESPN. But while she was in Florida she found out that ESPN favored having Taylor host those shows.
So then July 13, 2020, Nichols was on the phone with Mendelsohn. In the phone call, she sought advice right after finding out the executive decision that was made in favor of Taylor.
She claims that the job should have been hers because it is in her “contract.” She also claims that ESPN chose Taylor because they “felt the pressure” about racial diversity. Throughout this entire conversation, unbeknown to Nichols, the camera was on and recording.
She also says, “I don’t know. I’m exhausted. Between Me Too and Black Lives Matter, I got nothing left.”
This record eventually got put on the ESPN server, which was then seen by someone. WHich allowed this clip to spread like wildfire.
Nichols has stated that she reached out to Taylor for an apology but Taylor declined to comment.
You can listen to this conversation below.
Rachel Nichols comments on Maria Taylor pic.twitter.com/U8J66fCzgY
— La Spoelstra Nostra (@YngBlvkGifted) July 4, 2021
