ESPN can’t silence me: ex-analyst
ADRIENNE LAWRENCE not be silenced by ESPN.
Lawrence fired back at the sports network after it released text messages between her and veteran “SportsCenter” anchor John Buccigross.
The former on-air personality accused Buccigross (below, right) of sending unsolicited shirtless photographs of himself and called her “dollface,” “#dreamgirl” and “#longlegs” in messages from 2016.
Lawrence (below, left) filed a complaint with the station brass in August accusing the network of sexism and hostile treatment.
She claims she complained to human resources when rumors spread that she and Buccigross were in a relationship but a supervisor told her to drop the matter.
On Thursday, ESPN released screengrabs of text messages between Lawrence and Buccigross between June 4, 2016 and Sept. 7, 2016. The network said the texts illustrate the two “had a consensual, personal friendship that spanned months.”
Lawrence took shots at the network Friday.
“As for ESPN’s recent behavior, its decisions to (i) single me out, (ii) ignore my key allegations, which ESPN knows are far broader than text messages and photos, and then (iii) release select, selfserving text messages, only further evidences the culture of this network and the lengths it will go and the unethical means it will employ to try and silence women,” said Lawrence, a lawyer who started working at ESPN in 2015 on a racial-diversity fellowship.
Lawrence’s claims were found “to be entirely without merit” after the a full investigation, a spokeswoman for ESPN said. Her contract was not renewed after a two-year talent-development program, along with 100 other people, the spokeswoman added.
Lawrence, who first filed her complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, requested the state agency release her complaint so she could sue ESPN in federal court. will