ESPN Confirms Bill Simmons Learned He’d Been Fired via Twitter
The dissolving relationship between Bill Simmons and ESPN got another wrinkle Tuesday, as it was revealed Simmons learned of the non-renewal of his contract last week when it was reported by a third party on Twitter.
The network’s president John Skipper confirmed on Tuesday that Simmons found out he would no longer be at ESPN when the New York Times tweeted the report Friday after speaking with Skipper.
…Skipper also added that “all is cordial” between the two, but a source tells the Hollywood Reporter that Skipper’s unexpected announcement left Simmons “reeling.”
“Cordial but reeling” sounds like a bad red wine description. Simmons was quiet on Twitter until tweeting several times about the New England Patriots this morning.
Simmons, who built a one-man boutique sports-media empire at ESPN, has been battling his employer over the last year, culminating in his suspension last fall for critiquing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Upon his break with ESPN he immediately became one of the most sought-after names in media.
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