Dan Le Batard broke an ESPN policy on Thursday when he admonished Donald Trump on the air, and the longtime radio host was mysteriously absent from the start of his show the following morning.
Le Batard did not come on the air until the second hour of his “Dan Le Batard Show” on Friday, which initially led to speculation that he may have been suspended. However, ESPN has yet to comment on the situation, and Le Batard’s co-host Stugotz would only say Le Batard was late because he was eating breakfast. Andrew Marchand of the New York Post wondered if that meant he was meeting with ESPN executives.
LeBatard Show begins with Dan apparently eating breakfast, according to Stugotz. LeBatard is not on air. Opening has been mainly focused on breakfast food. ESPN has declined comment on LeBatard’s opinion in which he took on network prez Jimmy Pitaro.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 19, 2019
Conjecture: “Eating” may mean LeBatard is talking to ESPN execs about his comments yesterday.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 19, 2019
Marchand later noted that ESPN has informed its employees that the policy about avoiding political discussion has not changed. Le Batard eventually came back on the air and did not say why he was late.
ESPN is telling its employees that it policy on talking politics hasn’t changed. LeBatard is now back on air, talking to Tim Kurkjian.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 19, 2019
Le Batard spent some time on Thursday ripping Trump for his recent “send her back” attacks. He acknowledged ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro’s policy about not discussing politics but said it is important for people to speak out against the “abhorrent, obviously racist, dangerous rhetoric” coming from Trump.
Former ESPN host Jemele Hill received a suspension for unloading on Trump via Twitter back in 2017, so some are saying Le Batard is being given favorable treatment. Though, Hill’s suspension came under former ESPN president John Skipper. The network may eventually be forced to address the situation.
