Sports journalist Rob Parker was suspended indefinitely by ESPN on Friday after his controversial remarks about Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.
“Following yesterday’s comments Rob Parker has been suspended until further notice,” said Mike Soltys, the network’s spokesman. “We are conducting a full review.”
Parker’s comments were in reference to Griffin’s recent interview with USA Today where the NFL rookie stated he didn’t want to be defined by the color of his skin.
“You want to be defined by your work ethic, the person that you are, your character, your personality,” Griffin continued. “That’s what I’ve tried to go out and do. I am an African-American in America. That will never change. But I don’t have to be defined by that.”
On Thursday, Parker addressed Griffin’s comments on ESPN’s First Take, asking is RGIII “a brother, or is he a cornball brother?”
“He’s not real. Okay, he’s black, he kind of does the thing, but he’s not really down with the cause,” Parker said. ”He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really, like, the guy you want to hang out with because he’s off to something else.”
While Parker spent most of Thursday blasting his critics via Twitter, he has been rather quiet following the news of his suspension.
The post ESPN Host Rob Parker Suspended After Robert Griffin III Comments appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.