ESPN TV personality Max Kellerman (R) is among a group of approximately 20 people who have been let go by the Disney-owned network. Photo by Senior Airman Alexander Cook/U.S. Air Force
On June 30, Disney’s ESPN announced a staff reduction, which resulted in the termination of longtime sports TV hosts and analysts Jalen Rose and Max Kellerman, along with about 20 other individuals. The dismissed employees, including Jeff Van Gundy, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber, and LaPhonso Ellis, will receive payment for the remainder of their contracts, according to a source from ESPN.
ESPN cited the need to meet financial targets as the reason for these “difficult decisions.” In a statement, ESPN acknowledged the challenging process and emphasized that the decisions were more focused on overall efficiency than individual merit, with the aim of achieving financial goals and ensuring future growth.
Jeff Van Gundy, who had been with ESPN for 16 years and was part of the network’s top NBA broadcast team, along with Mark Jackson and Mike Breen, was among those laid off. In response to the layoffs, Suzy Kolber, one of the terminated employees, expressed her sadness on Twitter, mentioning her pride in having a long career as a woman in the industry.
This round of layoffs is not the first for ESPN and its parent company. In February, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced plans to cut 7,000 jobs at ESPN and Disney as part of a cost-cutting effort totaling $5.5 billion in 2023. ESPN had previously laid off 150 employees in 2017.
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