When you reveal controversial details, you should brace yourself for some backlash.
A heated sideline reporter rivalry has ignited, sparked by ESPN’s Molly McGrath calling out Charissa Thompson after Thompson made a surprising admission.
The feud began when Thompson shockingly confessed to fabricating halftime reports when she couldn’t interview a coach or forgot what the coach said.
“I’ve said this before,” Thompson disclosed on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take. “I haven’t been fired for saying it, but I’ll say it again. I would make up the report sometimes because A, the coach wouldn’t come out at halftime, or it was too late, and I didn’t want to screw up the report. So I was like, ‘I’m just gonna make this up.’
“Because first of all, no coach is gonna get mad if I say, ‘Hey, we need to stop hurting ourselves, we need to be better on third down, we need to stop turning the ball over and do a better job of getting off the field.’ They’re not gonna correct me on that. So I’m like, it’s fine, I’ll just make up the report.”
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To her credit, Thompson had discussed embellishing reports before alongside Erin Andrews. But this time, she claims to have outright fabricated them.
McGrath did not take this well.
“Young reporters: This is not normal or ethical,” she tweeted. “Coaches and players trust us with sensitive information, and if they know that you’re dishonest and don’t take your role seriously, you’ve lost all trust and credibility.”
While it’s unlikely that Thompson will face repercussions because, well, she’s Charissa Thompson, McGrath raises a valid point. Thompson’s credibility may take a hit, and questions will arise about the authenticity of sideline reports moving forward.
