ESPN appears to be doing damage control in regards to UFC president Dana White’s ongoing controversy. A viral video began making the rounds this week showing White and his wife at a Cabo San Lucas, Mexico nightclub on New Year’s Eve. The pair appeared to be arguing with one another before White’s wife slapped him. This prompted the UFC boss to respond with a slap of his own.
As a result, the UFC president has received a lot of blowback for his actions. Both White and his wife have since released statements claiming that this is the first time they’ve ever gotten physical with one another in their relationship, each apologizing to the other. It was also noted that both were heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident.
ESPN Attempts To Hush Employees
While many have been speaking out against White’s actions that night, it appears ESPN would like its employees to keep quiet on the matter. ESPN staff writer Jeff Wagenheim noted that employees have been instructed not to make any “incendiary” comments on the situation via social media.
Wagenheim first quote Tweeted Stephane A. Smith’s reaction with the following:
“We’ve been told to not write anything incendiary on social media about the Dana White situation, and I understand why and have abided by that. I just ask y’all to understand that some of us at ESPN do not have as soft a take as this on domestic violence.”
He then followed up with the following clarification:
“Clarification: There was no edict from ESPN bosses regarding the White situation, but in general we are strongly discouraged from incendiary posts on social media, and with a business partner things are sensitive. My bad on the wording. (The thought that follows still stands.)”
Currently, the only consequences that have been seen from the White incident have been the UFC boss’ Power Slap’s television debut being postponed a week on TBS. It was said that “strong discussions” were had on scrapping the project altogether.
