Not only are plans to remove Robert Lee’s statue causing an uproar in Charlottesville, plans to remove him from the broadcast booth are also causing controversy, reports the
Washington Times.
Robert Lee happens to be the name of a young Asian American broadcaster who had been assigned to do play by play for the upcoming game between the University of Virginia and William and Mary. Robert Lee is also the name of a confederate general and some have called for the removal of his statue from near the University.
In the aftermath of the violence at the recent White supremacist rally in Charlottesville and their defense of Lee, the General, Lee the broadcaster has been reassigned to another game.
The decision has been met with derision by conservative media outlets and caused some head shaking by the general public.
ESPN was quick to explain its decision, but that hasn’t eased the blow back.
Just received this email from an ESPN executive re the Robert Lee controversy. pic.twitter.com/OuBORlWO9f
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 23, 2017
Jason Kirk on SB Nation came to the defense of ESPN’s decision, calling it “reasonable.”
“ESPN not wanting to be associated with memes that relate back to either the Civil War or a recent act of violence? Reasonable, especially if the solution is to “switch” Lee to a different game,” wrote Kirk. “And it’s not like this is a big game.”
What do you think? Did ESPN make the right decision?
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RE: Robert Lee removed from Broadcasting University of Virginia game because of his name: Did the young Asian Am commentator Lee have a say? ESPN did a good job explaining their decision.