ESPN hires anchor who repeatedly called Trump a Nazi
ESPN announced this week it has expanded the role of outspoken liberal commentator Keith Olbermann, who will now serve as a guest anchor on “SportsCenter.”
Olbermann has worked for the network in the past, and in recent months made appearances on multiple ESPN shows, according to USA Today.
“Since we started this, my sixth separate tenure with ESPN, in January, I’ve found the variety of assignments to be the most fun and energizing of all my stints,” the commentator said in a statement. “Adding stuff, like being a rookie 59-year-old play-by-play guy, plus the Rip Van Winkle of ‘SportsCenter,’ only adds to the smorgasbord. Can’t wait, and at my age, I shouldn’t.”
WARNING: The following tweets contains profane language that some readers may find offensive.
In addition to guest anchoring “SportsCenter,” Olbermann is set to co-host some editions of “Pardon the Interruption,” as well as appear on “Outside the Lines.”
But ESPN’s decision to expand Olbermann’s role has not come without controversy, due in large part to some of his past criticisms of President Donald Trump, who he has repeatedly referred to as a “Nazi.”
Olbermann has also written a book claiming that Trump is “f—ing crazy.”
Then tell your racist, white supremacist, neo-nazi father to get the fuck out of our society. https://t.co/uRKqME8n2R
— Keith Olbermann⌚️ (@KeithOlbermann) August 13, 2017
They're fucking Nazis, you feeble minded corporate tool. You're not going to lose votes saying "I deplore fucking Nazis." #Idiot https://t.co/I2VgUStEC9
— Keith Olbermann⌚️ (@KeithOlbermann) August 13, 2017
You and @Potus can go fuck yourselves, you racist Nazi fucks. https://t.co/zWxy3BceoU
— Keith Olbermann⌚️ (@KeithOlbermann) August 26, 2017
ESPN: “It’s crazy people say we’re biased politically. That’s not true! You’re making it up!” Also, @espn: “Let’s hire the guy who just published a book called “Trump is fucking crazy” pic.twitter.com/Vz9ERnYDPv
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 25, 2018
In fact, some conservatives have pointed out there is a double standard at ESPN and its sister network ABC (both are owned by Disney).
ESPN previously opted to fire Curt Schilling, a former MLB pitcher who made controversial remarks about transgenders on social media, but has not dealt with liberals in the same manner.
Last September, “SportsCenter” host Jemele Hill called Trump a “white supremacist” but was not fired. Though ESPN tried to distance itself from her comments, she still works for the network, albeit in a different role.
Moreover, ABC decided this week to cancel the popular sitcom “Roseanne” after the show’s star, Roseanne Barr, sent out a tweet with racially charged comments about a former member of the Obama administration.
Needless to say, when they learned that Olbermann was returning to ESPN in an expanded role, many conservatives on Twitter couldn’t help but point out what they saw as hypocrisy.
The last thing ABC stands for is supporting someone who tweets awful things… Now over to Keith Olbermann with sports… pic.twitter.com/bEXprawPtJ
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) May 29, 2018
The irony of Disney canning Roseanne while continuing to employ some of the industries biggest racist and race baiting frauds like Jemele Hill, Bomani Jones, Steve A Smith is not lost on most. Oh and at the same time hiring a scum of a human in Keith Olbermann.
— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) May 29, 2018
So ABC/Disney fire Roseanne, but rehire Keith Olbermann? Okay…..
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW 🐻 (@mchastain81) May 29, 2018
According to Clay Travis of Outkick the Coverage, ESPN is showing that it really doesn’t care about conservative viewers.
“By hiring Olbermann despite knowing everything he’s written, ESPN is effectively endorsing his comments on Trump and sending a messing to every conservative viewer — go elsewhere, we don’t want you,” Travis wrote.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not ESPN will regret giving Olbermann an expanded role. Only time, and ratings, will tell.
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