Rob Parker will not be asked back to ESPN. The sports network announced today that the commentator— who questioned Washington Washington Football Team quarterback Robert Griffin III’s “blackness” because he’s in an interracial relationship—will not have his contract renewed.
“Rob Parker’s contract expired at years’ end. Evaluating his work and our needs, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew his deal,” ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said in a statement.
During his appearance on First Take last month, Parker labeled Griffin a “cornball brother” because he’s engaged to, Rebecca Liddicoat, a white woman. “We all know he has a white fiancée. There was all this talk about he’s a Republican.”
One day after making the statements, ESPN suspended Parker for 30 days.
According to USA Today, Parker spoke to a Detroit TV station about his words, and said that higher-ups were aware of what he was going to say during a production meeting.
Parker has not yet responded to being fired.
As for Griffin, his season hit a rough patch when the rookie sustained a torn LCL in his right knee over the weekend. He is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days.
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