ESPN and its lead NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski are apologizing after he replied with an expletive quip to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri following a news release.
Hawley sent out a release publicly criticizing the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver for allowing players to promote social justice on their jerseys this season. Wojnarowski replied with a two-word response that the senator’s office posted on Twitter.
ESPN said the statement was “completely unacceptable.” Wojnarowski wrote on Twitter that he was disrespectful and made a regrettable mistake. He said he would contact the senator directly to apologize.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 10, 2020
Hawley tweeted at ESPN to not suspend “Woj” as he is known in NBA circles.
.@espn don’t suspend a reporter, ask tough questions of @NBA about their pro-#China, anti-America bias. Start reporting for goodness sake https://t.co/No0rG4mS1L
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 12, 2020