By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE broadcast team member Jonathan Coachman responded via social media to being accused of inappropriate behavior in a discrimination lawsuit filed against ESPN by former employee Adrienne Lawrence.
“I will address this only once because I am seething today,” Coachman wrote via Twitter. “In 21 years of being a PROFESSIONAL I have never been more offended in my life. I my 9 years I can count on one hand the amount of times I interacted with anyone other than a co-anchor. To allow someone to spread vicious lies and flat out fabrications is not ok and it’s time someone stood up for themselves. @jemelehill addressed her lie last night. I am not a part of this lawsuit because I have never done anything wrong.
“My reputation speaks for itself and anyone that has ever worked with me will back that up. I am also offended that someone can dangerously throw peoples names into something for the clear attempt at getting headlines. This the only time I will address this because I am not a part of this lawsuit. My heart goes out to anyone falsely accused of anything. Trust me it doesn’t feel good. But most of you have been incredible and supportive. Onward and upward.” Follow him online at Twitter.com/TheCoachrules.
Powell’s POV: Coachman referred to Jemele Hill, who issued a statement to dispute a claim made in Adrienne Lawrence’s discrimination lawsuit that fellow ESPN on-air personality Chris Berman left her a “threatening and racially disparaging voicemail.” I reached out to WWE for comment on the claims made regarding Coachman and received the following statement: “We take these matters very seriously and are investigating.”
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We’ll see. But ESPN is a well known hotbed for predatory employees harassing women. Maybe Coachman wasn’t involved, but if it turns out he was, his word means nothing.
He better hope he didn’t do anything wrong. We’ve seen the consequences for those that ultimately were proven guilty or admitted same.