In a move that frankly reads like it came out of The Onion, ESPN pulled its sportscaster Robert Lee in coverage of University of Virginia football game — because his name is the same as the Confederate general. The company believed that having a sportscaster named Lee for a Virginia game could be painful for some after the protests in Charlottesville. It does not matter that the sportscaster is Asian or that such an association is facially absurd.
ESPN seems blissfully unaware that it was taking a ridiculous action and explained that he was moved to a different game “simply because of the coincidence of his name.”
Here is the statement:
“We collectively made the decision with Robert to switch games as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding, simply because of the coincidence of his name. In that moment it felt right to all parties. It’s a shame that this is even a topic of conversation and we regret that who calls play-by-play for a football game has become an issue.”
It is a curious statement that “it’s a shame that this is even a topic” when ESPN made it a topic and moved an employee based on the most superficial association with a general who died in 1870. The ESPN decision shows less concern than contempt for viewers who it believes would be aggrieved by having someone named Lee broadcasting a Virginia game.
Now the greater concern is whether Thomas Jackson will return to ESPN to take up the slack. While he is African American, there is no escaping the fact that he was the same name at Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson.
Beyond crazy.
https://youtu.be/3KgB6F-FSr8
YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID. JUST STOP WATCHING ESPN AND IT WILL GET THEIR ATTENTION PRONTO!!
This is part of USGINC’s new strategy to rebrand the corporate oligarchy as heroes of the revolution. We have seen any number of scoundrels and con men, people who would run over a child’s dog for a good laugh, come out as the new conscience of the nation! Yes-sir! The corporations are the new leaders in ethics according to both the NYTimes and The Guardian! (If they say it, it must be true.)
ESPN is so compassionate, so concerned, so caring. It just wants to make me cry, seeing the way those people care about others.
Oh corporate masters, you are so beneficent! Jesus has returned as a corporation!!! Who knew?
Robert Lee should lawyer up. Specializing in employment law. It could be ALCU, EEOC, Asian. Call congress reps, senators & DOJ. Send a letter to the White House.
Put ESPN CEO John Skipper & Disney CEO Bob Iger in the hot seat.
Stupid is a stupid does.
In the race to be most the ridiculous people in this universe, ESPN surges into the lead, but the competition is fierce. Life has turned into a series of stories from The Onion.
So essentially ESPN is saying that considers its viewers to be snowflakes.
People with goofy names need to change their names or suffer the consequences.
Statue of Judaic Confederate slave owner stands untouched in Florida
What about David Levy Yulee statue in Florida?
David Levy Yuleee was one of the tens of thousands of Judaic slave-owners of Sephardic-Judaic descent who bought, sold or traded in black slaves in the western hemisphere.
And your point is…….?
“if facially absurd?”
It’s worse than we already thought.
Curiouser and curiouser. Next they’ll “purge” the voting roles of all those whose last names are Jefferson, Lee, Washington or Jackson. And a new movement: “Symbolism Matters!” will be born.
That would be interesting, since about 90% of persons named Jackson, Jefferson and Washington are black; and those named Lee are of Chinese descent.
It would make sense to pull the football game until the league restructures the game so players don’t end up with TBI or other injuries.
Absurd.
In related news: West Point has pulled a cadet named in honor of Benedict Arnold from delivering the loyalty oath to next year’s graduating class.
Madness has no bounds. That’s why people love it so.
ESPN is owned by Disney. You may or may not be aware that they are one of the single most neo-liberal corporations in existence, everything the do or make is carefully engineered to further this agenda and its rhetoric, and they have no problem whatsoever with greasing palms or filing lawsuits to remain unquestioned and unopposed. I’m not at all surprised, and incidentally, I do not support them with my money. They are the kings and queens of newspeak.
Yes, Disney sucks. Not only for Plasticland East and West, but for their odious H1B visa abuse. But, this summer’s entertainment is brought to us by the virtue-signaling maroons who have been hammering Disney for suspected whitewashing of the live-action Aladdin. The live-action B&TB was god-awful (despite the efforts of Emma Thompson and Josh Gad), so I imagine this one will be no different.
This is race discrimination. He has a claim for damages and injunctive relief under federal statutes.
It is. As per my other comment, regarding spreading ignorance and intolerance, Disney are on equal footing with the Daily Stormer, and in business they are on par with the Church of Scientology. We really need to be paying attention. It isn’t about entertainment anymore, and the sickest thing is, it is done in the name of *profit*.
What do you expect in a country where 20%+ of the pharmaceutical industry’s budget goes to advertising, advertising to idiots who are influenced by animated characters on TV getting better after they pop a pill? We are treated at the level(s) of intelligence we exhibit, have. The media is designed to sell itself and to the lowest common denominator. We elect a President that reflects that lowest common denominator. America seems to be a choice between two directions, each with their extremes. This is the extreme pandering to the lower end of the scale.
You are not moving through the grieving process, not one iota. The lowest common denominator of people that would be butt hurt by a coincidental name are the very same that are still butt hurt from this election. Join a support group, commiserate with Natacha, or pop a pill. Do something, perhaps go to Florida and get a massage.
All good advice, Olly. Hope Isaac is listening.
This BS has to stop!!