Charissa Thompson issues statement addressing admission of fabricated sideline reports
Fox Sports and Amazon host Charissa Thompson did not elaborate on her admission that she made side reports during last night’s Amazon broadcast. She posted an explanation on Instagram.
Here is the full text of her statement:
“Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. I have a responsibility to myself and my employers to clarify what is being reported. When I was on a podcast this week, I mentioned that I would be doing early reporting on my career when I worked as a sideline reporter before transitioning into my current hosting role.
“Working in the media, I understand how important words are and I chose the wrong words to describe the situation. I’m sorry. I never lied about anything or acted unethically during my time as a sports broadcaster.
“If there wasn’t a coach providing information that could help my report card, I would use the information I learned and saw during the first half to make my report card. For example, if a team was 0 for 7 on third down, that would clearly be an area where they need to improve in the second half. In these cases I never attributed anything to a player or coach.
“I have nothing but respect for sideline reporters and the tireless work they do behind the scenes and on the field. I am nothing but grateful and humbled to work with some of the best in the industry and call them some of my best friends.”
Here are her comments from it excuse me, via AwfulAnnouncing.com: “I’ve said this before. I didn’t get fired for saying it, but I’ll say it again. Sometimes I would prepare the report, because A, the coach didn’t want to come out at halftime, or it was too late and I didn’t want to ruin the report. So I thought, ‘I’m just going to make this up.’ . . . Because first of all, no coach is going to get mad if I say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to stop hurting ourselves, we’ve got to be better on third down, we’ve got to stop turning the ball over and come out better. the field.’ They’re not going to correct me on that. So I think, it’s fine, I’ll just do the report.
Multiple sidelines reporters reacted violently to the confession after it surfaced on Thursday.
Some may wonder whether “the wrong words” were chosen when the initial comments were preceded by an acknowledgment that “I’ve said this before” and “I didn’t get fired for saying it.”
Anyway, that’s her explanation. Fox Sports and Amazon declined comment to multiple outlets, including PFT.