Some ESPN Producers Fed Up With McAfee’s ‘Diva’ Behavior: Sources

quote:

---

Pat McAfee’s latest remarks about ESPN were met with gritted teeth by some coworkers who are fed up with what they describe as “diva-like” behavior, sources tell Front Office Sports.

But there is also a sense that nothing’s going to change, since the talented and influential McAfee has the backing of three top executives: ESPN’s president of content Burke Magnus; ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro; and Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger. 

That’s what sources tell FOS following McAfee’s dismissive comments earlier this week about the “old ESPN people” producing College GameDay on Tuesday.

“If you think about old white people and old ESPN people, those are really the people that hate me the most at this stage of life,” McAfee said in a video on his own Instagram, via Awful Announcing. “Now, granted, there’s some other groups that certainly have threatened my life on a pretty regular basis, I’d say they hate me too. But throughout the entirety, old whites and the old ESPN people over the last like three years have really hated me. That’s who all the producers are of GameDay too. So now—it’s been a fun run. College football is great. OK, cheers, have a great day.”

Some ESPNers are growing tired of McAfee’s public whining, sources say, which they view as juvenile, unprofessional and bad for business. If McAfee has an issue with his GameDay producers, they believe he should hammer it out with them in person; not publicly rip people who can’t go on TV to defend themselves.

“Totally unnecessary. Grow up and talk to these people to make it better. You are not a victim,” one source told FOS. “Everyone is bending over backwards to put you in a good position—and these same people are incentivized for you to succeed.” Another was more blunt, complaining McAfee sometimes acts like an “entitled diva.”

In a statement to FOS, Magnus hailed McAfee as a “creative force.” But he admitted his disruptive style can sometimes cause “friction.”

---

quote:

---

The dust-up is the latest example of ESPN trying to figure out the entertaining, electric, exasperating enigma that is Pat McAfee. 

The former NFL punter has exploded into one of the biggest stars in sports media. Over the past three seasons, McAfee’s swagger has revitalized the iconic, 38-year old GameDay, enabling ESPN to fight off a challenge from Fox Sports’ rival Big Noon Kickoff and cement its position as the No. 1 college football pregame show on TV.

---