Maria Taylor leaves ESPN over 'contract dispute' weeks after audio surfaced of colleague Rachel Nicholas venting that the on-air host got top NBA job because she was black
- ESPN and on-air personality Maria Taylor jointly announced that they couldn't reach an agreement on a contract extension and she has left the network
- Her appearance Tuesday at the NBA Finals was her final one for the network
- Earlier this month, leaked audio from ESPN's Rachel Nichols surfaced in which Nichols claimed that Taylor was getting better assignments because she's black
- Taylor has been with ESPN since 2014, beginning as a college analyst. She later added duties as a reporter for College GameDay and ABC's football coverage
- No announcement about Taylor's next place of employment was made, but rumors have swirled that she will join NBC immediately for the Olympics
ESPN and on-air personality Maria Taylor jointly announced Wednesday that the two parties couldn't reach an agreement on a contract extension and she has left the network.
Her appearance Tuesday night on the NBA Finals telecast was her final one for the network. Taylor's future with the network has been a mystery since The New York Times revealed earlier this month that her colleague and fellow ESPN anchor Rachel Nichols was recorded on a live microphone in 2020 suggesting that Taylor received certain assignments because she is black.
No announcement about Taylor's next place of employment was made, but rumors have swirled that she will join NBC immediately in time to assist with its coverage of the Olympics in Tokyo, according to the New York Post.
ESPN and on-air personality Maria Taylor jointly announced Wednesday that the two parties couldn't reach an agreement on a contract extension and she has left the network
Taylor's future with the network has been a mystery since The New York Times revealed earlier this month that her colleague and fellow ESPN anchor Rachel Nichols (pictured) was recorded on a live microphone in 2020 suggesting that Taylor received certain assignments because she is African American
'Maria's remarkable success speaks directly to her abilities and work ethic,' said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN's chairman, in a news release. 'There is no doubt we will miss Maria, but we remain determined to continue to build a deep and skilled talent roster that thoroughly reflects the athletes we cover and the fans we serve. While she chose to pursue a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we've done together.'
Taylor has been with ESPN since 2014, beginning as a college analyst and reporter. She later added duties as a reporter for College GameDay and ABC Saturday Night Football, then began hosting NBA Countdown.
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Over the past few weeks, Taylor herself had become the story, first as news leaked that she and ESPN were millions of dollars apart on contract talks, with ESPN reportedly offering $2 million to $3 million a year and Taylor asking for $8 million.
Then, earlier this month, the Times shared videotaped remarks Nichols made about Taylor a year ago. The comments came after Taylor, who is black, was chosen as the host of the network's 'NBA Countdown' show as the season resumed in the NBA bubble. Nichols, who is white, apparently expected to fill the role.
Nichols reportedly wasn't aware she was being filmed when she said the following:
Nichols confided in Adam Mendelsohn, a public relations and communications strategist who works with LeBron James
'I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world -- she covers football, she covers basketball,' Nichols said while speaking to Adam Mendelsohn, a longtime adviser of LeBron James. 'If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity -- which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it -- like, go for it.
'Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away.'
Nichols apologized to Taylor and the network on a following episode of 'The Jump.' Nichols has hosted that show since 2016. She returned to the network that year after working for ESPN from 2004-13.
Nichols was taken off coverage of the NBA Finals this year and replaced by Malika Andrews amid the report.
Taylor, 34, made a farewell statement as part of the ESPN news release.
'So thankful to Jimmy and all of my great teammates and friends at the SEC Network, College GameDay, Women's and Men's college basketball, and the NBA Countdown family -- the people who believed in me, encouraged me, pushed me, and lifted me up,' she said. 'Words are inadequate to express my boundless appreciation, and I hope to make them proud.'
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