The ESPN and Rachel Nichols saga took an unexpected turn this week after the network suddenly took her off of all NBA programming and plans to cancel her weekday afternoon show “The Jump,” The Sports Business Journal reported on Wednesday.
Nichols, who was taken off the 2021 NBA Finals broadcast following an internal scandal, reacted to the news on Twitter and Instagram.
“Got to create a whole show and spend five years hanging out with some of my favorite people, talking about one my favorite things,” Nichols wrote on Instagram.
“An eternal thank you to our amazing producers & crew – The Jump was never built to last forever but it sure was fun. More to come…”
Nichols has faced backlash for comments she made last year suggesting Black colleague Maria Taylor got a coveted hosting job because of her race.
Taylor elected to not come back to the Worldwide Leader in Sports and move to NBC Sports where she was a host and correspondent during the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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“We mutually agreed that this approach regarding our NBA coverage was best for all concerned. Rachel is an excellent reporter, host and journalist, and we thank her for her many contributions to our NBA content,” ESPN senior vice president for production David Roberts said in a statement.
After the audio of her comments surfaced, Nichols apologized to Taylor on air.
