Britt McHenry has some questions to answer after a video surfaced on the Internet Thursday afternoon showing the ESPN sideline reporter unleashing an ugly barrage of remarks on an Arlington, Virginia, tow truck company employee.
The incident appears to have occurred earlier this month after McHenry’s car was towed from a parking lot of a Chinese restaurant in town.
BustedCoverage.com posted leaked video surveillance of McHenry’s apparent ensuing visit to the tow lot, wherein the reporter proceeded to dress down the tow company cashier with comments about her appearance, intelligence and station in life.
According to Sports Illustrated‘s Richard Deitsch, ESPN confirmed the incident and is investigating the matter.
Via ESPN: “We are aware of a recent exchange between Britt McHenry and a towing company employee. We are now reviewing the matter with her.”
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) April 16, 2015
ESPN has levied a one-week suspension on Britt McHenry, per ESPN PR representative Josh Krulewitz:
Update from ESPN: Britt McHenry has been suspended for 1 week effectively immediately. — Josh Krulewitz (@jksports) April 16, 2015
Here are some remarks that may concern a few folks in Bristol:
“I’m in the news sweetheart, I will f—-g sue this place.”
“That’s why I have a degree and you don’t.”
“That’s all you care about is taking people’s money…with no education, no skill set. Just wanted to clarify that.”
“Why? Because I have a brain and you don’t?”
“I’m on television and you’re in a f—–g trailer, honey.”
“Lose some weight, baby girl.”
Ah, yes—the old “I’m on TV and you’re ugly” routine. If it weren’t so unbelievably over the top, a movie writer might work some of these lines into Mean Girls 3.
McHenry apologized for the incident over Twitter on Thursday afternoon. She says she acted inappropriately in an “intense” moment:
In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and (cont) http://t.co/Wx37XF2QtM
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) April 16, 2015
As Deitsch mentioned, ESPN is looking into the matter. We’ll see if the network goes with the Bill Simmons suspension-cation approach or if McHenry will face more serious consequences.
We’ll update this story as it develops.
By Dan Carson