On Thursday, an ESPN executive responded to the idea that feared backlash from President Donald Trump’s administration led to the creative differences that caused ESPN and Spike Lee to abandon a documentary series on former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The league is set to hand over NFL media properties to ESPN for 10% of the sports network, and they need permission from Trump’s administration for the merger to pass. Trump has a history with Kaepernick, calling out the quarterback for a knee during the national anthem.
Was President Donald Trump a factor in ESPN’s decision?
Kansas City Chiefs, Donald Trump, Patrick Mahomes
President Donald J. Trump speaks to a crowd during a visit to Dana Incorporated in Warren, Michigan. © Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC
During an appearance on CNBC, ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro was asked if the decision to cancel the project had to do with trying to appease Trump and his administration. Pitaro argued that wasn’t the case, saying the decision was made months before the league announced a potential merger.
“No, absolutely not,” Pitaro said via a transcription from Pro Football Talk. “We made that decision many months prior to the NFL announcements. I think what happened is Spike [Lee] was, I believe, on the red carpet and was asked this question somewhat out of the blue, and that’s why it became news. But, there were creative differences.
“We made the decision in partnership with Colin and Spike to not move forward many months before any NFL announcement, and it had nothing to do with the recent deals.”
The timing is still odd
Former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick gets inducted into the Nevada Sports Hall of Fame during halftime of the game against Idaho State at Mackay Stadium in Reno on Sept. 11 Caitlin Clark
Colin Kaepernick gets inducted into the Nevada Sports Hall of Fame during halftime of the game against Idaho State at Mackay Stadium in Reno on Sept. 11, 2021.
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Still, the league and ESPN had to know by November that Trump winning the White House meant that the merger was potentially in jeopardy via projects like the Kaepernick documentary.
Lee was asked this week if he planned to shop the series to another outlet. He does not, which adds another layer of curiosity to the situation.
Why work so hard and then abandon the project? Can Lee shop the project? Does ESPN still own the rights to said project?
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick watches game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick watches game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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