The cable sports network ended its working relationship with Pierce on Monday, an industry source told CNN Business. ESPN declined to comment on Pierce leaving the network. Representatives of Pierce also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The news of Pierce’s firing was first reported by Front Office Sports.
Pierce has been an analyst for the network on several NBA shows. This included the studio show “The Jump” and the preview program “NBA Countdown”. Pierce, nicknamed ‘The Truth’, won an NBA Championship with the Celtics in 2008.
Pierce joined ESPN before the 2017-2018 season.
The raging nature of the live stream was probably a turning point for ESPN – a company that owns the family-friendly Walt Disney Company (DIS). It also does not appear that Pierce and others in the video are wearing masks or following Covid protocols set up on the network.
Pierce apparently addressed the situation on Twitter shortly after the news broke.
On Monday, Pierce posted a short video of him smiling with the caption, “Big Things coming soon stay tuned make sure you smile #Truthshallsetufree.”
Later Monday, he tweeted again writing, “I can not lose, not even if I lose.”
It is unclear whether anyone will replace Pierce with ESPN’s NBA programming and whether the network will just turn to other commentators, reporters and analysts to fill his place.