ESPN president responds to the Maria Taylor-Rachel Nichols spat, says he's planning a town hall over the network's diversity

The Hollywood Reporter

“We respect and acknowledge there are a variety of feelings about what happened and the actions we took,” ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro wrote in the memo sent to staff last Friday. “The details of what took place last year are confidential, nuanced and complicated personnel matters. But understand this – we have a much better story than what you’ve seen this week.” Pitaro added: “I do want to be clear on one thing: Maria Taylor was selected as NBA Countdown host last year because she earned it,” he added. “Please know our commitment is that assignments and opportunities at ESPN are based on merit and any concerns, remarks, or inferences that suggest otherwise have been and will continue to be addressed.”