The announcement that John Skipper has resigned because of substance abuse may have stunned Bristol most of all. The statement on Monday, in which the ESPN…
The announcement that John Skipper has resigned because of substance abuse may have stunned Bristol most of all.
The statement on Monday, in which the ESPN president and co-chairman since 2012 stepped down because he has “struggled for many years with a substance addiction,” was met with an outpouring of tributes from ESPN personalities, including tears being shed on air.
“The president of ESPN has resigned. And sent out a statement — I’m sorry,” Dan Le Batard said on his TV and radio show reading the news to his listeners while trying to fight back tears. “I just want to know that he’s OK.
“I’m just learning of this now, and this is the reason I work here. I don’t know what’s coming, I don’t know what this is.”
Le Batard said he would not be at ESPN without Skipper.
“I know I look like and sound like a fool right now,” he said through tears. “But I want you to understated something.… Just so you understand, this person has created everything that exists here at ESPN for us. He did it because of how he cares about minorities and their causes. I didn’t want to work for ESPN — I wanted to work for this man.”
That seems to be the norm. Twitter was filled with appreciations from ESPN stars recalling times Skipper has personally helped them, with a particular focus on how Skipper valued diversity at the company.
Jemele Hill, who had a sit-down with Skipper after her well-publicized feud with President Trump, was one of his loudest supporters.
