Posted on 12/18/2017 10:44:35 AM PST by nickcarraway
John Skipper has resigned from his top position at ESPN and co-chairmanship of the Disney Media Networks. Skipper had recently signed a contract extending his leadership to 2021.
"Today I have resigned from my duties as President of ESPN," Skipper said in a statement released on Monday. "I have had a wonderful career at the Walt Disney Company and am grateful for the many opportunities and friendships."
"I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem," he said.
George Bodenheimer, Skipper's predecessor at ESPN who was president from 1998-2011, will take over as the acting chairman of the company for the next 90 days.
"I've stayed in close contact with John, and I believe in the direction he's taking ESPN," said Bodenheimer. "He's assembled an outstanding leadership team – many of whom I know very well – and I am extremely confident we will work together effectively to move ESPN forward during this transition."
The company made news earlier this year after SportsCenter anchor Jemele Hill called President Donald Trump a "white supremacist" in a tweet. Trump responded to the comment on Twitter, calling on ESPN to "apologize for untruth" and claiming the network "is paying a really big price for its politics (and bad programming). People are dumping it in RECORD numbers."
As NPR's Domenico Montanaro reported, there's evidence that ESPN is not losing subscribers because of its politics.
Ahhh... the dreaded poontang addiction....
LOL! :-)
Skipper abandons ship. Film at 11:00
Abandoning a sinking ship! Oh, and that drug problem?
I understand how you feel. For me, the nauseating and insufferable PC mentality at ESPN (which they seem damned intent on forcing down the throats of their viewers) damps that feeling of sympathy down for me.
I guess we see this in a lot of things.
I hate the New York Times, and every time they have a layoff or downsizing, I force myself to consider sympathy for the the people working in the printing/layout/environmental services, but I have to convince myself (and it isn’t that hard) that they are part and parcel of the entire thing. All probably rabid union members, too.
All working to undermine the country, even if they don’t see it that way...I do.
I guess I try not to take any satisfaction in it, but I don’t shed tears, either.
You’d have to be high to think Jemelle Hill was a good idea.
Pretty sure that is a BIG reason they are losing viewers. And the prediction is that Mr. Skipper's ultimate replacement will be a minority.
Let me consult my media logic book. It says here that when caught doing naughty things with subordinates, one of the first excuses is substance abuse. Hm.
Was he on one knee?
+1.
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