Mayweather Camp Bans ESPN’s Beadle and CNN’s Nichols From Fight (UPDATED)
On the day of not only the biggest fight of the year but the biggest fight in a decade, Floyd Mayweather’s camp has decided to block the media credentials of CNN’s Rachel Nichols and ESPN’s Michelle Beadle for tonight’s fight against Manny Pacquiano.
I, along with @Rachel__Nichols, have been banned from the MGM Grand Arena for the fight tonight by the Mayweather camp. #TheFightGame
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
No fight for me or @MichelleDBeadle. Mayweather’s team told my producer the camp was blocking my credential. https://t.co/JTjjXadPp8 — Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 2, 2015
While ESPN continues to promote Stephen A. Smith, noted Mayweather supporter, Nichols and Beadle have been two of only a handful of voices speaking out against Mayweather and his history of domestic violence. In September of 2014, Nichols had an interview with Mayweather and during the interview, Mayweather continued to dodge the topic or deny anything ever happened: Michelle Beadle, who had a more upbeat interivew with Mayweather, took to twitter days after the interview to confess she made a mistake.
Ok. To clarify. I made a huge mistake during the ESPYs in an interview w/ Mayweather. I also was not aware of just how horrible his record.. — Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) September 12, 2014
..w/ women has been over the years. After doing the reading, I guarantee I won’t make the mistake of treating him or his life lightheartedly — Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) September 12, 2014
Sometimes I don’t know everything. I’m glad I was educated on the topic. And I’ll be better. On that note: #nomayweather
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) September 12, 2014
If Mayweather really thinks silencing two of the media’s biggest female voices will help silence his critics, he will be proven wrong. This will only make the critic’s voices louder. In an attempt to push away or silence the problem, Mayweather may have just made the noise even louder.
(UPDATE)
Mayweather publicist Kelly Swanson has stated that the whole thing is a misunderstanding, and that both Beadle and Nichols were still credentialed:
No one including ME banned @Rachel__Nichols from covering the fight. She is already credentialed. #Facts
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
And @MichelleDBeadle isn't even on the press list. She's credentialed through @HBOboxing. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
Now HBO’s Bonnie Bernstein has tweeted that Beadle has been reinstated:
HBO source confirms @MichelleDBeadle's credential has just been cleared for Mayweather fight. Not sure about @Rachel__Nichols
— Bonnie Bernstein (@BonnieBernstein) May 2, 2015
(UPDATE 2)
One more update on the credentials issue. According to Sports Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch, Nichols and Beadle are not the only ones. Other writers/reporters who have been critical of Mayweather over his history of domestic violence remain uncredentialed for the fight:
[SI’s Chris] Mannix also reported that Martin Rogers, a writer for USA Today and a critic of Mayweather’s, was declined credentials for the fight. Deadspin’s Daniel Roberts reported that credentials to Gawker’s Hamilton Nolan and boxing writer Steve Kim, who has published a number of articles critical of Mayweather’s history of domestic violence, were also denied.
(UPDATE 3)
Rachel Nichols has released a statement, contradicting what Mayweather’s camp claimed as just a “misunderstanding.” She closed by saying she won’t be attending the fight.
“Have had a bunch of folks asking questions about the Mayweather issue. Here’s what happened: After asking tough questions of Floyd Mayweather on my program, I was not offered press credentials to cover tonight’s fight. In an email dated April 23, I was told I would only be credentialed for the run-up events through the week, but in bold, italic letters the email stated “you do not have any access Saturday to any services or events.” A CNN producer revisited the issue with the Mayweather camp on April 29, confirming to Mayweather’s publicist that I would be in Las Vegas, and the publicist replied that I would still be denied a fight night credential. I was told the same thing when I arrived at the credential office in person on May 1, by two separate officials, in front of several other people. It doesn’t surprise me that now, after facing significant backlash, the Mayweather camp has reversed its position. But despite this, and other outside parties generously offering me their seats, I will not attend the fight. I will also not let fear of retaliation prevent me from asking the tough questions the public deserves answers to in the future.”
