Charissa Thompson is responding to the controversy sparked by her appearance on a podcast this week.
In an Instagram story, Thompson said she needed to “address the elephant in the room” and that she has “a responsibility to myself and my employers to clarify what is being reported.”
Thompson’s comments on the Pardon My Take podcast went viral, and sparked backlash from other sports journalists.
“I’ve said this before, so I haven’t been fired for saying it, but I’ll say it again. I would make up the report sometimes,” Thompson said on the podcast, adding that on occasion “the coach wouldn’t come out at halftime, or it was too late and … I didn’t want to screw up the report, so I was like, ‘I’m just going to make this up.’”
In her Instagram post Friday, Thompson said that “working in media I understand how important words are and I chose the wrong words to describe the situation. I’m sorry. I have never lied about anything or been unethical during my time as a sports broadcaster.”
She added that if a coach did not provide any info, Thompson would use information she had gathered and saw during the first half to create her report. “For example if a team was 0 for 7 on 3rd down, that would clearly be an area they needed to improve on in the second half. In these instances I never attributed anything I said to a player or a coach.”
Her comments drew a sharp rebuke from current and former NFL sideline reporters, with CBS’ Tracy Wolfson saying that “this is absolutely not ok, not the norm and upsetting on so many levels,” and former NBC Sports sideline reporter saying, “Charissa is a nice person, but this is professional fraud. If a coach won’t talk to you at halftime, you say that. And if there is no report, then you just don’t file a report at half time. It’s pretty simple. journalistic integrity is paramount.”
“Shocked. Disappointed. Disgusted,” added ESPN’s Lisa Salters. “What we heard today called all sideline reporters into question. My job is an honor, a privilege, and a craft at which I have worked so hard.”
“I have nothing but respect for sideline reporters and for the tireless work they put in behind the scenes and on the field,” Thompson wrote Friday. “I am only appreciative and humbled to work alongside some of the best in the business and call them some of my best friends.”
Thompson no longer works as a sideline reporter, but she hosts the Fox NFL pregame show, and also serves as the lead studio host for Amazon‘s coverage of Thursday Night Football.
