The Times reported that the call lasted more than 20 minutes and featured "continuous conversation." Two audio clips were posted by the newspaper online. They lasted a combined 2 minutes 47 seconds.Mendelsohn is also a senior adviser to TPG, a private equity firm. He was previously the managing director for global communication. He was previously deputy chief of staff to the then-California Governor. Arnold Schwarzenegger.Taylor joined More Than a Vote in the summer of 2013 and recorded videos to support the efforts of the group.More Than a Vote website notes that the group was formed during the Black Lives Matter protests after the deaths of George Floyd (and Breonna Taylor) in September. Our mission: To energize, educate, and protect Black voters.James has had Mendelsohn as an advisor for over a decade. He was the co-founder of James' Black voter promotion organization More Than A Vote and is now the senior advisor.The camera's video feed was fed into ESPN's control center in Bristol, Connecticut. Later, ESPN circulated a tape of the call and it was leaked.Nichols was apparently unaware that the conversation was recorded by a camera that transmits images and audio from her room at Walt Disney World's resort in Florida. Walt Disney Company is the majority owner of ESPN."I support these movements because I know that people who are affected by them never run out of ideas or run out of options. I must continue to challenge my privilege and strive to be a better ally.Mendelsohn wrote in an email, "I shouldn’t have said it” or even thought it.Mendelsohn said that he made the first remarks on the statements regarding Black Lives Matters and Me Too. He told CNBC that he had made a stupid, careless statement rooted in privilege.On that tape, Nichols suggested that Taylor was given the gig because Taylor was Black and that ESPN was under pressure for more diversity in its on-air talent.Nichols, who was white, complained to Mendelsohn about Maria Taylor, a Black journalist, being given the hosting spot for NBA Finals pre-and postgame shows on their sports cable TV network. This spot, which Nichols expected would be hers according to The Times.After being asked about those comments Sunday, Mendelsohn sent an email to CNBC in which he apologized.The New York Times reported that Adam Mendelsohn's blunt remarks, which referenced catchphrases for movements to reduce sexual violence against females and for police brutality and killings against Black people, was made during a phone conversation he had last year with Rachel Nichols, ESPN's NBA reporter.LeBron James' longtime advisor, a white man of color, was captured on tape telling an ESPN reporter that he was exhausted. A Sunday report revealed that between Me Too and Black Lives Matter, there was nothing left.Anthony Davis #3, LeBron James #23, Los Angeles Lakers Lakers and Quinn Cook #28, Los Angeles Lakers, kneel during National Anthem. They have VOTE shirts on before the game against Denver Nuggets in Game Three, the Western Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena, ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex, September 22, 2020, Lake Buena Vista.The Times also reported that ESPN employees had said Nichols made Taylor's job more difficult because Taylor must deal with Mendelsohn in order to interview with pro basketball players.According to the Times, "many employees were incensed when they saw the video," because they believed that Nichols was repeating "a common criticism that white workers use in many workplaces to denigrate non-white colleagues." Taylor was not offered the hosting job because she was the best candidate for the job but because of her race.According to The Times, ESPN's stars discussed refusing to appear on the show in protest of changes to the production that they felt were for Nichols' advantage.These changes led to Nichols being promoted to the role of lead game sideline reporter. This resulted in three sideline reporters from color receiving fewer assignments.This shocking report comes just weeks before Taylor's ESPN contract expires.The New York Post reported last week that Taylor rejected a contract proposal last year that would have raised her $1 million annual salary to almost $5 million annually. Taylor was reportedly looking for more money.The Post reported that ESPN's current offer for Taylor was in the region of $2 million to 3 million per year. According to The Post, the lower amount is a result of the network's attempt to reduce salaries across its workforce.Nichols called Mendelsohn on July 13, 2020 to request an interview with James, and Anthony Davis, another Lakers player. Rich Paul is also a client of James' agent. Paul is also assisted by Mendelsohn, who is black.Nichols also used the call to ask Mendelsohn advice on how to handle the situation at ESPN. Taylor was denied the assignment."I wish Maria Taylor all success in the football world, she covers basketball," Nichols stated during the call with Mendelsohn. Audio portions were posted online by The Times."If you feel pressured about your poor long-term record on diversity, you can give her more to do. I know this from the female side. You can find it elsewhere. It is not your job to find it or take my stuff away.The newspaper reported that she also mentioned that the assignment to host the NBA Finals coverage was in her contract.After Nichols stated that she would wait for ESPN's next move to make, Mendelsohn stopped and said, "I don’t know." I'm exhausted. I have nothing left between Me Too and Black Lives Matter.The tape shows that Nichols laughed in return.Mendelsohn suggested that Nichols "frame” the situation, citing ESPN's pitting of Taylor and Nichols against one another.Mendelsohn stated, "About how they just so very white male to turn two women against each other to compete for the one spot that's dangling over their heads,""A larger conversation about all spots that should be considered."On the tape, Nichols stated that there was not just one seat at a table for the minority of any version this week.Mendelsohn responded: "If this is the problem we've talked about for a while, it is exactly what it is. This is an example where one Black man is in the boardroom.... It is not possible to have a Black woman in a prominent position and feel like the work is done.He said, "And you don't get the right to say, OK, we have white women, we have woman in a critical chair, and now we're going put a Black woman into that same seat.""The question is: What are the other seats white males are in?"According to The Times, he said that he shared what he believed at the time and still believes it to be true. Maria [Taylor] earned and deserved the position. Rachel [Nichols] should respect it."Mendelsohn stated that Maria deserved it for her hard work and ESPN recognized the need to change, as many Americans do."Just because Maria was offered the job doesn't mean Rachel should not be paid what she is worth." Rachel should not force Maria and Rachel into a zero-sum game with ESPN. Rachel had to speak up.The Times reported that Mendelsohn didn't answer any follow-up questions regarding the recorded call.Mendelsohn stated that he would reiterate his beliefs, which he had advised Rachel during the call and then told the Times. Maria was deserving and earned this position, and Rachel had to respect it. Rachel must focus on the culture of ESPN if she wants to challenge them.ESPN declined to comment on whether any employees were disciplined in connection to the case.According to The Times, the only person who was punished was a Black digital producer of video. She was suspended for two consecutive weeks and not paid after telling ESPN's Human Resources division that Taylor had sent her the video.CNBC declined to comment on Josh Krulewitz's statement, but he referred to statements he made to The Times in support of the article.Krulewitz stated that a diverse group of executives had thoroughly and fairly considered the facts and then dealt with the situation in a professional manner."We are proud of the coverage that we continue to produce and will keep our focus on Maria, Rachel, and the rest of N.B.A.'s talented team." FansKrulewitz told the newspaper that ESPN values diversity, inclusion, and equity and that it has "arguably the most diverse array" of talent in the media industry, even those working behind the scenes.
