It seems that ESPN is in the middle of quite a scandal after the network launched a scheme to improperly obtain Emmy statuettes to give to their on-air talent.
According to a report from Katie Strang of The Athletic, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), the organization that administers the Emmys, “uncovered a scheme that the network used to acquire more than 30 of the coveted statuettes for on-air talent ineligible to receive them. Since at least 2010, ESPN inserted fake names in Emmy entries, then took the awards won by some of those imaginary individuals, had them re-engraved and gave them to on-air personalities.”
The scheme centered around the network’s iconic “College GameDay” show. Stars Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Chris Fowler, Desmond Howard and Samantha Ponder were among those to receive the ill-gotten Emmy statuettes, though there is no evidence suggesting that any of those personalities knew about the scheme. All of those awards have since been returned.
It’s an absolutely embarrassing scandal for ESPN, and it obviously led to a lot of reactions on social media as a result.
This is absolutely crazy! Must read. https://t.co/r2sAunncLU
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 11, 2024
This was how rosters worked in '90s sports video games https://t.co/HjX9sD9muy pic.twitter.com/Fkfipir1S1
— Jason Kirk (buy my novel) (@JasonKirk_fyi) January 11, 2024
Huge missed opportunity if the ESPN talent doesn’t change their social media profile to one of the fake names. https://t.co/FzF7lbhUWS
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 11, 2024
This story is wild. https://t.co/ZwITcQ0awv
— Rosie Langello (@RosieLangello) January 11, 2024
I'm sorry but this is hysterical, I can't believe they did this and got away with it for so long https://t.co/6ebEo7F8EV
— kleinman.bsky.social (@BobbyBigWheel) January 11, 2024
as a society, we don't need to take ESPN seriously anymore. let them turn into Buzzfeed and fade away into the internet ether https://t.co/suFmV3PaTj
— sarge (@sarge__msu) January 11, 2024
It was not clear who was explicitly responsible for the scheme, but Craig Lazarus, vice president and executive producer of original content and features, and Lee Fitting, a senior vice president of production who oversaw “College GameDay” were both ruled ineligible from future participation in the Emmys after an investigation.
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