This is when an ESPN reporter was caught on camera calling a rival reporter a “f***ing c***” in front of young Yankees fans trying to get Aaron Judge’s autograph.
The baseball star was seen posing for photos and talking to kids lined up to see him before the team took on the LA Angels in the Bronx on April 18, when ex-ESPN reporter Marly Rivera started punching Ivon Gaete .
Rivera had arranged an interview with Judge at the time, the New York Post previously reported, but Gaete, a freelance journalist who had been at the stadium covering Angels star Shohei Ohtani for Tokyo Broadcasting, also wanted to speak with the Yankees star.
At one point, Rivera seems to get so enraged that she rolls her eyes and calls Gaete, the wife of MLB Vice President of Communications John Blundell, a “f***ing c***,” much to Gaete’s shock. As a result, Rivera was fired from her position on Wednesday.
Video shows ousted ESPN reporter Marly Rivera lashing out at her rival Ivon Gaete
Gaete, a freelance reporter, was at the stadium covering Angels star Shohei Ohtani for Tokyo Broadcasting, but also wanted to speak to Yankees star Aaron Judge
The video, shot by Gaete’s own cameraman, shows Judge smiling for photos as he happily signed baseballs from young fans last week.
Rivera stood in front of the camera a few feet away and said to her cameraman, “Yeah, I already told him [to] Get ready.’
But Gaete then walks over and stands beside her, prompting Rivera to reprimand the reporter in Spanish.
When Gaete asks Rivera if she’s okay, Rivera sarcastically shoots back, “Oh, I’m sorry.” I didn’t know you speak English now?’
She then continues to speak Spanish in Gaete, while Judge tries to ignore the situation and continues to sign autographs for his fans.
Apparently aggravated, Rivera switches back to English as she rolls her eyes and says. ‘Oh what f***ing c***’ and walks away, leaving Gaete visibly stunned.
Eyes wide, Gaete turns to Rivera and asks, “Excuse me, what?” [did] Do you call me?’
When Rivera didn’t answer, Gaete turned to one of the camera crew members and asked if they had captured the exchange on camera. She looked relieved when they confirmed they had.
She then tries to approach Judge as he continues to sign the baseballs and asks for “uno momento, por favor” or “one moment please”, while Rivera approaches her from behind and apparently tries to apologize.
Marly Rivera (pictured) worked for ESPN for 13 years and covered the MLB in both English and Spanish before being fired on Wednesday
At one point in the video, it looked like she was trying to apologize to Gaete
The verbal altercation took place just yards from where Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (pictured) was signing autographs for young fans
Eventually, Gaete gets hold of Judge, who told her he has to “go after this,” and apologizes for the inconvenience.
Still, the two reporters hang around the outfielder as he finishes his meeting with his fans and leaves.
The video sparked an investigation by Major League Baseball, which began looking at how Rivera performed her job and interacted with co-workers.
The Office of Investigations has called and received information about both the incident and other reports of Rivera’s conduct, sources familiar with the investigation said. Washington Postand shared his findings with ESPN.
A member of the network’s human resources department then conducted a full investigation into the Yankees Stadium incident and spoke to several members of the media, and ESPN confirmed on Wednesday that Rivera was no longer working for the company.
Multiple reporters later told the Post how she once knocked out another reporter and called her a “white son of a bitch” after the reporter tried to take a picture of a group of Hispanic players that Rivera took a picture of.
And in another instance, they said, Rivera called a Latino reporter a “fake Hispanic.”
But Rivera said she believes she’s being singled out because she’s had a history of feuding with Gaete’s husband, Blundell.
She said in a statement after her impeachment that she accepted responsibility for “what I said, what I shouldn’t have done.”
“There were extenuating circumstances, but that in no way excuse my actions,” she said.
But, she said, “I’m a professional with an excellent record in baseball, and I truly believe I’m being chosen by a group of individuals with whom I have a long history of professional disagreements.”
Rivera had been with ESPN for 13 years and became one of the most high-profile Hispanic women covering the sport when she contributed to ESPN.com’s website and on-air shows, as well as ESPN Deportes.
She has appeared on the Home Run Derby broadcast and Sunday night baseball radio, specializing in coverage of Hispanic players.