ESPN has fired announcer Ron Franklin for the sexist comments he made to sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards last Friday. Information surfaced on Tuesday that ESPN had pulled Franklin
from his radio broadcast of Saturday's Fiesta Bowl.
"Based on what occurred last Friday, we have ended our relationship with him," ESPN said in a statement.
There have been conflicting reports over what Franklin has actually said, but it now appears that before Friday’s Chick Fil-A Bowl, Franklin said to Edwards, "Listen to me, sweet baby, let me tell you something."
Edwards took exception and asked Franklin to address her in a more respectful manner. This prompted Franklin to respond, "OK, then listen to me, [expletive]."
Edwards has also clarified that it was a colleague that reported the incident to ESPN executives.
Franklin publicly apologized and said that he deserved to be pulled off the Fiesta Bowl
game. However, according to SportsByBrooks, Franklin was fired for failing to apologize to Edwards personally.
