Pat McAfee Alleges ESPN Executive's Interference in His Show
Pat McAfee speaks out against ESPN executive, alleging deliberate sabotage of his show by leaking false information to the media
Accusing his new business partners of purposefully undermining him, Pat McAfee, the sports-talk sensation working for the "Worldwide Leader in Sports," expressed his frustration on a recent broadcast of "The Pat McAfee Show." He claimed that ESPN head of studio production Norby Williamson was leaking false information about the show to the media.
McAfee has accused certain individuals within ESPN of intentionally working against the success of his program, singling out Norby Williamson as the primary perpetrator. McAfee's unfiltered and opinionated style, which includes the use of profanity, stands in contrast to the typical approach of other ESPN hosts and guests. His recent controversial moment came when guest Aaron Rodgers speculated about comedian Jimmy Kimmel's potential ties to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Kimmel, also employed by Disney like McAfee, expressed his anger in a heated response on X, previously known as Twitter. McAfee issued an apology on Wednesday, but Rodgers has not made any comments.
The New York Post highlighted on Thursday that McAfee's TV ratings are lower than his lead-in, implying that they may not be high enough to justify the reported $85 million contract that ESPN has paid him to air his show. While the Post's report did not mention any unnamed sources, McAfee claimed on his show on Friday that Williamson was responsible for the report and others in the media.
McAfee claimed that Williamson was "the sole individual with that information - and then, somehow, that information gets leaked and twisted, setting a false narrative of our show." ESPN stood up for Williamson.
An ESPN spokesperson stated, "Norby Williamson is deeply committed to ESPN's success." The spokesperson also expressed excitement over the multi-platform success of the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN. The statement concluded by stating that the matter will be handled internally with no further comment.
McAfee admitted that he has personal issues with Williamson.
McAfee expressed his frustration with being stood up by a certain individual in his office back in 2018, leading him to reciprocate the lack of respect. Despite McAfee's intention to bring entertainment and sports discussions to his audience, he is now at odds with the strict rules and journalistic standards associated with ESPN, as a subsidiary of Disney. This includes the need for fact-checking and corrections for any inaccuracies.
McAfee seldom interrupts his guests, allowing them to freely express themselves for extended periods, even when their statements are controversial. His show is accompanied by a disclaimer stating that it is a lighthearted, often humorous discussion that may not align with ESPN's viewpoints, concluding with a humorous "Don't sue us" at the end of the disclaimer. McAfee expressed that he believes he is being treated unfairly.
McAfee stated on Friday that despite their good intentions, they don't always get it right. He pointed out that others have been getting it wrong in this specific field for a long time. This report includes contributions from CNN's Oliver Darcy.
