ESPN has announced earlier today that the network has no future plans to feature LaVar Ball on any of their programs.
This came as a response after the Big Baller Brand’s founder made innuendo comments towards sportscaster Molly Qerim during a live segment on First Take.
Ball was on the show to discuss his reaction and his ‘take’ on his son, point guard Lonzo, being traded to the Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis trade.
Qerim asked Ball to if they can switch topics on the show, then he made a remark that shocked everyone including co-hosts Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman.
A video from Twitter of the comment is in a link below.
From now on THAT'S HOW YOU SHOOT YOUR SHOT!!!! THAT'S HOW YOU SHOOT!!!
— TREY PAUL (@TREYXPAUL) June 17, 2019
Lavar ball xxx Molly Qerim😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/LQaXhVR3VU
A lot of people were upset about the comment and the internet responded to the backlash.
Sports personalities including basketball broadcaster and former coach Dick Vitale provided feedback on the comment.
Y in the world is LaVar Ball even given the opportunity to ramble & rant on tv ? Nothing he says makes any sense & today wasn’t any different . Molly Q as many said was a real star during the interview . https://t.co/lKcRRfHNoP
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) June 18, 2019
Just a few hours after the show went off the air, ESPN thoroughly announced that, as mentioned, Ball will no longer be featured in any program after the remark.
A tweet by Richard Deistch confirmed that the network told Ball his comment was deemed inappropriate. It also featured a press statement from an unnamed ESPN spokesperson.
There will be no LaVar Ball on any ESPN platform heading forward — at least as of now. Asked if Ball will be used as an on-air guest, an on-the-record source for digital, or a background source for ESPN, an ESPN spokesperson said,"We have no plans moving forward."
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) June 19, 2019
Responding to the ban, Qerim said that Ball’s comments were ‘completely inappropriate’ and that everyone at ESPN ‘had her back’ while waiting for ESPN’s decision on Ball’s future interviews.