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In Los Angeles, California, NBA player LeBron James and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pose. Getty Images | Chelsea Lauren | FilmMagic A white NBA superstar LeBron James’ longstanding white advisor was caught on video telling a white ESPN reporter, “I’m completely spent. I’m out of options between Me Too and Black Lives Matter “According to a report released on Sunday. The blunt comments by powerhouse communications maven Adam Mendelsohn — which referenced catchphrases for movements aimed at reducing sexual violence against women and police killings and brutality against Black people — were made during a recorded phone call with ESPN’s NBA reporter Rachel Nichols last summer, according to The New York Times. During that call, Nichols, who is white, complained to Mendelsohn about a Black reporter, Maria Taylor, gaining the hosting spot for their sports cable TV network’s NBA finals pre- and postgame shows, which Nichols had thought to be hers, according to The New York Times. On that audio, Nichols implied that Taylor was given the job at the expense of Nichols because Taylor is black — and because ESPN was under pressure to have more racial diversity in its on-air talent lineup. Nichols was reportedly unaware that her chat was being recorded by a video camera in her hotel room at Walt Disney World in Florida, which was transmitting images and sounds. ESPN is mainly owned by the Walt Disney Company. The camera’s video was transmitted into ESPN’s control room in Bristol, Connecticut, where she had been appearing on the network’s programming. A tape of the call was later released and shared within ESPN. For more than a decade, Mendelsohn has been a trusted advisor to James. He is a senior counselor to James’ black voter advocacy group, More Than A Vote, which he co-founded last year. More Than a Vote was founded “after the Black Lives Matter rallies following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, with the objective of energizing, educating, and safeguarding Black voters,” according to its website. Taylor became a member of More Than a Vote last summer and recorded videos in support of the organization’s activities. Mendelsohn also serves as a senior advisor at TPG Capital, where he formerly served as managing director of global communications. He formerly served as the deputy chief of staff to then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. When asked about his comments concerning Me Too and Black Lives Matter, Mendelsohn stated in an emailed statement to CNBC, “I made a stupid, careless joke entrenched in privilege and I am really sorry.” Mendelsohn admitted, “I shouldn’t have said it or even thought it.” “I try to assist these causes because I know that the people who are affected by these issues are never exhausted or run out of options. I need to keep my privilege in check and concentrate on becoming a better ally.” According to the New York Times, the tape of the call lasts more than 20 minutes and features “continuous discussion.” The newspaper only made two audio clips available online, each lasting 2 minutes and 47 seconds. The Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis #3, LeBron James #23, and Quinn Cook #28 kneel during the National Anthem with VOTE shirts on prior to the start of Game Three of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 22, 2 Getty Images | Mike Ehrmann Sport | Getty Images Many employees were outraged after watching the video, according to the Times, because they believed Nichols was echoing “a common criticism used by white workers in many workplaces to disparage nonwhite colleagues — that Taylor was offered the hosting job only because of her race, not because she was the best person for the job.” According to The New York Times, ESPN employees argued Nichols makes Taylor’s job more difficult because Taylor needed to deal with Mendelsohn to arrange interviews with pro basketball players. The stars of ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” contemplated refusing to appear on the show in May, according to The New York Times, in protest over alterations to the production that they believed were done to Nichols’ benefit. Making Nichols the lead game sideline reporter was one of the modifications, which resulted in three sideline reporters of color receiving fewer assignments. The shocking news comes just weeks before Taylor’s ESPN contract is set to end. According to the New York Post, Taylor rejected down a contract proposal last year that would have lifted her current $1 million annual income to roughly $5 million over time. Taylor was rumored to be demanding a large sum of money. According to the New York Post, ESPN’s latest offer to Taylor is in the area of $2 million to $3 million per year. According to The Washington Post, the lesser number reflects the network’s decision to slash compensation across the board. Nichols called Mendelsohn on July 13, 2020, to request an interview with James and another Lakers player, Anthony Davis, who is also a client of James’ agent, Rich Paul. Paul, who is black, has Mendelsohn as an advisor. During the same call, Nichols also asked Mendelsohn for guidance on how to handle the problem at ESPN and her denial of the assignment that went to Taylor. “I wish Maria Taylor the best of luck in the world — she covers football and basketball,” Nichols said during the chat with Mendelsohn, which was recorded and made available online by The New York Times. “If you need to give her extra things to do because you’re worried about your dreadful long-term record on diversity — which, by the way, I personally know from the female perspective — do it. Simply look for it elsewhere. You’re not going to get it from me or take it away from me.” According to the newspaper, she also stated that the assignment to present NBA finals coverage “is in my contract in writing.” Following Nichols’ statement that she planned to wait for ESPN’s next step, Mendelsohn paused before saying, “I’m not sure. I’m completely spent. I’m out of ideas after Me Too and Black Lives Matter.” According to the tape, Nichols then responded with laughter. Mendelsohn then advised that Nichols “frame” the matter by implying that ESPN had pitted two women against each other, Nichols and Taylor. “About how it’s just so white male to set two women against each other to battle for the one slot that they’re dangling over them,” Mendelsohn added. “A broader discussion regarding all the locations that should be considered.” “There isn’t simply one place at the table for a minority of whichever version this week we’re trying to please,” Nichols stated on the tape. In reaction, Mendelsohn stated: “If you think about it, this is exactly the issue we’ve been discussing for a long time, which is white guys — it’s an example of the one Black person in the boardroom… You don’t get to put a Black lady in a prominent position and think, “OK, the job’s done.”” ” You don’t get to say, ‘OK, we have a white lady in a vital seat, and now we’re going to put a Black woman in that same seat,’ “he stated “The question is, where do white males sit in the other seats?” According to The New York Times, he told the publication for its article, “I’ll tell you what I believed at the time and what I believe now. Rachel [Nichols] must appreciate Maria [Taylor] since she deserved and earned the job.” “Maria deserved it because of her efforts,” Mendelsohn said, “and ESPN understood that, like many people and corporations in America, they needed to change consciously.” “The fact that Maria won the position does not negate Rachel’s right to be compensated fairly. ESPN should not have forced Rachel and Maria into a zero-sum game, and Rachel had no choice but to speak up.” According to the New York Times, Mendelsohn did not respond to follow-up queries concerning the recorded call. Mendelsohn stated in a statement to CNBC: “I’ll reaffirm what I believe, Rachel advised over the phone and told the New York Times. Maria had earned and deserved the position, and Rachel had to show her respect. Rachel needed to focus on ESPN’s overall culture if she wanted to confront them.” ESPN has declined to comment on whether or not any employees were disciplined as a result of the investigation. According to the New York Times, the only individual known to have been punished was a Black digital video producer who was suspended without pay for two weeks after alerting ESPN’s human resources section that she had delivered the film to Taylor. ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz declined to comment to CNBC, instead referring to statements he made to The New York Times for its piece. “A diverse group of executives thoroughly and fairly reviewed all of the circumstances surrounding the occurrence and then correctly addressed the problem,” Krulewitz stated. “We’re happy of the coverage we’re producing, and our focus will stay on Maria, Rachel, and the rest of the great crew servicing NBA fans as a whole.” ESPN also prioritizes diversity, inclusion, and equity, according to Krulewitz, and the corporation “probably boasts the most varied collection of competent employees in the sports media business, including those behind the scenes.”/nRead More

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