An ESPN employee is facing possible termination after being overheard describing a two-hour conference call discussing race relations as “venting.”
About 30 minutes into a phone call in which ESPN employees were engaged in what is described as “riveting and emotional” dialogue about race relations, ESPN play-by-play announcer Dave Lamont was overheard speaking to someone in the background thinking he was muted.
He used the word “venting” to describe the meeting during the overheard exchange, according to the New York Post.
Lamont was immediately rebuked by fellow employee Maria Taylor, who was speaking at the time, and warned him he could be disciplined if he didn’t stop.
ESPN is reportedly considering firing Lamont, despite his acknowledgment that he made a mistake and issued a statement of apology.
“A comment was made to my wife that was overheard on the college football call, offending some who heard it,” Lamont said. “We have a racially integrated home, and I respect and admire those who spoke up about their experiences. I profusely apologize to everyone on the call.”
Sources, many of whom were on the call, said that Lamont’s comment was brief but added that many listening were “uncomfortable” with what he said and deemed it “shocking,” the New York Post reported.
Following the meeting, Senior Vice President of ESPN Lee Fitting thanked everyone who was on the call but described Lamont’s interruption as “unacceptable.”
Sources said that Lamont’s fate is currently in the hands of the company’s human resources department.
