ESPN Lays Off Some Of Your Favorites
ESPN is laying off around 20 high-profile sports commentators as part of a cost-cutting initiative. Layoffs at ESPN shook the sports media world on Friday when a number of high-profile…
ESPN Layoffs
Justin Casterline / Stringer via Getty ImagesESPN is laying off around 20 high-profile sports commentators as part of a cost-cutting initiative.
Layoffs at ESPN shook the sports media world on Friday when a number of high-profile on-air personalities were let go by the network in a move to cut costs. After weeks of speculation, several cuts were revealed ahead of the holiday weekend, headlined by some of the company’s biggest names.
Among those let go were Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson, Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose and LaPhonso Ellis, the source said. Suzy Kolber also announced she had been laid off.
The cuts to Disney’s global workforce are part of a multibillion-dollar cost-cutting initiative to streamline company operations. The company reported that operating profit grew 56%, to $12.1 billion, in 2022.
Why the layoffs at ESPN?
ESPN said in a statement: “Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries”
“Today I join the many hard-working colleagues who have been laid off. Heartbreaking-but 27 years at ESPN was a good run,” Suzy Kolber said on Twitter. “Longevity for a woman in this business is something I’m especially proud of.”
All of these commentators are under contract, but according to sources, they all have an opportunity to explore other options despite their contracts. The source stressed that the cuts were simply a matter of cost-cutting, and not related to job performance.
Stephen A. Smith's status:
Stephen A. Smith is not at risk of being let go, Scott Van Pelt and Joe Buck are also stable.
It's no shocker that ESPN is holding onto loudmouth Stephen A. Smith. He is their most widely-known and highly-exposed personality. With layoffs though, you had to wonder about Smith, since he makes a is making a huge amount of money from the network. He signed a five-year, $60 million deal with ESPN in 2019.
List of those laid off at ESPN:
Jeff Van Gundy
Jalen Rose
Keyshawn Johnson
Max Kellerman
Suzy Kolber
Chris Chelios
Matt Hasselbeck
Steve Young
Rob Ninkovich
Neil Everett
Ashley Brewer
Joon Lee
LaPhonso Ellis
Todd McShay
Jordan Cornette
Jason Fitz
David Pollack
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