ESPN announced earlier this year that “Around the Horn” will air its final episode on May 23, and a new report has surfaced that sheds light on why the show is being canceled.
Bobby Burack of Outkick spoke with several sources connected to “Around the Horn” about why ESPN has decided to nix the show. The consensus is that “Around the Horn” had become too much about controversies and social issues and not enough about sports.
Those who have followed “Around the Horn” since its inception in 2002 have likely noticed a change with the program’s content. Analysts who appear on the show, which is hosted by Tony Reali, have regularly used the platform to express their political opinions. A recent example of that came last week when Kate Fagan returned to the program and spoke about transgender kids playing sports.
Fagan, who had not appeared on “Around the Horn” in three years, said she was proud that the show provided a platform for “diversity and inclusion” and “lifting up new voices.”
Fagan sat alongside Jemele Hill, who parted ways with ESPN years ago because of her constant insistence on speaking about social issues.
According to Burack, ESPN’s most senior executives do not want their on-air talent focusing on politics and social issues. That could be why they decided “Around the Horn” has to go.
Though ESPN has not announced what its programming will look like after “Around the Horn” is taken off the air, the network is reportedly considering an unusual idea to replace the show.
