Floyd Mayweather Bars CNN’s Rachel Nichols, ESPN’s Michelle Beadle from Covering Fight
The biggest boxing match in recent memory, between word champions Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is set to go down tonight, Saturday, May 2 beginning at 11 p.m. ET from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. But two major sports reporters will not be allowed to cover it.
On Saturday, ESPN’s Michelle Beadle and CNN’s Rachel Nichols both tweeted that they have been barred from even entering the arena by Showtime because of an apparent dispute with the Mayweather camp:
I, along with @Rachel__Nichols, have been banned from the MGM Grand Arena for the fight tonight by the Mayweather camp. #TheFightGame
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
No fight for me or @MichelleDBeadle. Mayweather's team told my producer the camp was blocking my credential. https://t.co/JTjjXadPp8
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 2, 2015
Mayweather’s beef with the two reporters appears to stem from their coverage of his history of domestic violence, with at least seven assaults against five different women reported over the years.
During the 2014 ESPY Awards, Beadle conducted a friendly interview with Mayweather that included comments like, “I like that you live your life.” But when people started pointing out the inherent complications with that statement, she apologized for her “mistake” on Twitter:
Ok. To clarify. I made a huge mistake during the ESPYs in an interview w/ Mayweather. I also was not aware of just how horrible his record..
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) September 12, 2014
..w/ women has been over the years. After doing the reading, I guarantee I won't make the mistake of treating him or his life lightheartedly
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) September 12, 2014
Sometimes I don't know everything. I'm glad I was educated on the topic. And I'll be better. On that note: #nomayweather
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) September 12, 2014
During that same period, Nichols profiled Mayweather’s domestic violence problems for her CNN show, Unguarded, pressing him on the various incidents from his past. She shared the video on social media on Saturday, implying that is was this interview that got her banned from covering tonight’s fight.
Watch video below, via CNN:
UPDATE — 2:20 p.m. ET: A PR spokesperson for Mayweather, Kelly Swanson, has pushed back on claims from Beadle and Nichols regarding their press credentials. She tweeted Saturday afternoon:
No one including ME banned @Rachel__Nichols from covering the fight. She is already credentialed. #Facts
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
And @MichelleDBeadle isn't even on the press list. She's credentialed through @HBOboxing. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
@BonnieBernstein yes that is what I am saying. They have credentials and still have them.
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
Mayweather’s team also reportedly told Los Angeles Times’ Lance Pugmire they have “proof” that Nichols’ credentials were never revoked:
Mayweather team say they have "proof" @Rachel__Nichols was always credentialed. #MayPac
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) May 2, 2015
UPDATE — 3:40 p.m. ET: HBO Sports, which also employs Beadle, was reportedly able to get her credentials reinstated, but as she tweeted this afternoon, she had already returned home to Los Angeles and does not plan to return for tonight’s fight:
After hearing my credential was pulled, I went home. Told this morning that HBO was able to get it re-approved late last night.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix found that while two reporters from CNN are credentialed for the event, neither of them are named Rachel Nichols:
SI has obtained a copy of most recent seating chart circulated by promoters. Two CNN talent listed as credentialed. @Rachel__Nichols is not.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) May 2, 2015
[Photo via screengrab]
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