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The Deshaun Watson controversy led to someone losing his job, and it was not Deshaun Watson.
Diana Moskovitz and Kalyn Kahler of Defector.com report that Aaron Wilson is no longer for the Houston Chronicle due to comments made last month about the situation on WEEI radio in Boston.
In an interview available online, Wilson called the lawsuits against Watson a “money grab” and “ambulance chase.” Wilson also used an unfortunate, inaccurate and untouched term while clumsily trying to explain Watson’s approach to trying to resolve the claims before the first lawsuit was filed.
“In his case, you know, it’s like you do not, you know, you do not negotiate with terrorists,” Wilson said, trying to explain the idea that players with impeccable reputations are more likely to pay to make allegations. make. as this goes away. “You know, people demand money, they ask for money. The – it kept increasing, it went up and up and up and up. And you start talking about more and more funds, I’m not going to say how much it involves. But my understanding is that you know that there was an acknowledgment that it was something you know, only that it was just a money grab. ‘
Wilson seems to be passing the thought pattern of Watson’s camp. Wilson should have been much clearer to do so; his word choice made it look he believed what they believe.
Wilson also voted for Watson’s character, saying lawyer Tony Buzbee’s case to bring more defendants together was ‘looked down on’. Wilson added that he was skeptical about the allegations.
The interview took place very early in the process before Buzbee even had his first press conference. At the time, there were not many defendants, and there were legitimate questions about Buzbee’s tactics and the evidence he presented in public. For example, the night before Wilson’s appearance, Buzbee posted some Watson social media posts that barely smoked guns on smoke.
“I do not know them, I know him,” Wilson said after being accused by host Greg Hill of being pro-Watson. ‘I’m not going to throw the man under the bus until I have proof. I do not feel I have the proof, only these are allegations. ”
Wilson also wrote a lengthy article last month in which friends and associates said they could not believe the allegations in the lawsuits. On WEEI, Wilson said that the Texans did not believe the allegations and that, as for players and teammates, “Nobody wants to think of him, and they all say privately to me, ‘Aaron, we would be shocked if this were true. . ‘”
Per Moskovitz and Kahler, who Chronicle held a sports staff meeting on Friday during which editor Reid Laymance said Wilson was no longer employed in the publication. Although no details regarding the move were shared during the meeting, Chronicle Steve Riley, executive editor, sent a memorandum to the entire newsroom on the handling of the Watson case.
“The allegations of sexual assault against Deshaun Watson bring these standards to the forefront,” Riley wrote, via Defector.com. ‘This note serves as a reminder that as we report, analyze and describe the allegations, those who bring them up and the person against whom they are brought up must enter the story with fairness and care towards all involved. Given the frequency of content we create, on a growing number of print and digital channels, our editors should also be vigilant with our oversight of coverage across all platforms. . . . Facts are good. Analysis is OK. Opinion, speculation or unfounded allegations are not. We will not tolerate that kind of comment. ”
It’s likely that Wilson’s ‘you do not negotiate with terrorists’ line has tipped the scales against him. It would also have been wise for Wilson to clearly separate his beliefs (or not even have beliefs) from the strong and honestly predictable opinions of those close to Watson. Wilson would have had no basis whatsoever to come to such conclusions alone so early in the process; even now there is insufficient evidence to somehow make firm decisions as to whether Watson did what he is accused of.
Wilson’s role as a reporter and not a print / web / radio / TV opinion generator also contributed to the situation. Given the obvious conflict that arises when it comes to the Wilson Reporter function to gain access to Watson and his representatives, co-workers, friends, etc. To maintain, Wilson’s broader business interests would not be served by expressing skepticism about Watson based on the first few allegations. Unfortunately for Wilson, he went too far to express skepticism about the claims being made against Watson.
The e-mail of the Chronicle to all staff also pointed out that media appearances can only happen with the permission of a supervisor. This implies that Wilson agreed to appear on WEEI without obtaining such prior permission. If he had done so, he might have received some important advice that would have enabled him to navigate the minefield in a more artistic way that he willingly entered by agreeing to talk extensively about the situation on live radio. talk.
Alternatively, Wilson might have gotten an answer that would help him avoid the whole mess: Do not conduct the interview.