4 hours ago
2
ESPN has become embroiled in a civil war following reports that the network's chiefs are growing frustrated with 'entitled diva' Pat McAfee.
On Tuesday, McAfee hinted at renewed tensions with 'old, white' executives behind the scenes at ESPN - having previously accused a former exec of trying to sabotage his show back in 2024.
In a clip posted on Instagram this week, McAfee claimed that the people who 'hate me the most at this stage of life' are 'old white people and old ESPN people'.
Just a few days after his viral rant, reports now suggest that ESPN producers have been irked by the comments and called out McAfee for acting like 'a victim'.
In regard to McAfee's rant, a source told Front Office Sports: 'Totally unnecessary. Grow up and talk to these people to make it better. You are not a victim.
'Everyone is bending over backwards to put you in a good position - and these same people are incentivized for you to succeed.'
ESPN executives are reportedly growing frustrated with 'entitled diva' Pat McAfee
McAfee hinted at renewed tensions with 'old, white' ESPN executives in a video this week
Meanwhile, another source told the outlet that McAfee acts like an 'entitled diva'.
Despite this, McAfee did seemingly receive a vote of support from ESPN president Burke Magnus, who hailed the 'enormous' impact that the host has had.
Speaking to FOS, he said: 'Pat is a creative force. He's pushed hard to advance College GameDay and his impact has been enormous.
'Since he joined ESPN, GameDay - as well as his own daily show - have experienced unprecedented success'.
As he continued, Magnus did admit that McAfee's approach and attitude runs the risk of causing 'friction' among the team.
'Pat is also an innovator, and when you have someone who disrupts the status quo, it's not surprising when there's friction and disagreement as a result,' he continued.
'We will continue to encourage and support Pat and the entire GameDay cast and crew as together they break new ground on one of ESPN's most important franchises.'
Magnus has been a long-term advocate for McAfee and, last month, insisted that he couldn't imagine ESPN without McAfee being a part of it.
McAfee previously accused one former executive of trying to sabotage his show back in 2024
ESPN's content president, Burke Magnus, has admitted things are complicated with McAfee
Ex-NFL player McAfee, 38, signed an $85million deal with ESPN in 2023 and licenses his hugely popular 'Pat McAfee Show' to the network. He also appears on GameDay every Saturday morning.
His relationship with ESPN bosses has been far from plain sailing and he even once accused former ESPN executive Norby Williamson of trying to sabotage his show in January 2024.
After Aaron Rodgers appeared to suggest Jimmy Kimmel would be named as one of Jeffrey Epstein's associates during one of his then-weekly Tuesday appearances in January 2024, McAfee let rip at Williamson for allegedly attempting to bring down his show.
Williamson left ESPN in April 2024 but that still didn't prevent McAfee from taking aim at some executives during his post on Instagram earlier this week.
'I just got done a little morning workout. It's nice to read those comments,' he said in the video.
'I'd like to let all you old f***s know, I hate you too. Never got along with that class of people. Teachers, principals, you name it. Since I [was] a kid, always hated me. It's kind of a part of life now.
'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.
'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.
McAfee previously singled out exec Norby Williamson, accusing him of leaking information
'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.'
Fellow ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith was forced to deny that there is animosity between him and McAfee last year.
A report from the New York Post indicated that the pair had an explosive phone call - with McAfee calling his colleague a 'motherf***er' and Smith banning the former punter from 'First Take'.
On his podcast, The Stephen. A Smith Show, the host quickly responded to the story - denying the rift; but not expressly denying the phone call took place.
