ESPN national baseball reporter Marly Rivera has been fired by the network after she cursed at her after a disagreement with another reporter.
In a statement to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, ESPN confirmed Rivera “no longer works here.” Rivera’s biography is no longer listed with other employees of the network. The network had no further comment on the incident.
Rivera and reporter Ivón Gaete both attempted to interview New York Yankees hitter Aaron Judge ahead of the team’s 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 18, according to the New York Post. Rivera reportedly told Gater that she had previously scheduled an interview with Judge, but Rivera said Gater ignored her.
Rivera then called Gaete a “swearer” and was caught on camera. Keke Hernandez, left, is interviewed by ESPN Deportes broadcaster Marly Rivera after a game in 2018.
“I take full responsibility for the things I said I shouldn’t have done,” Rivera said in a statement to the New York Post. “There are extenuating circumstances, but this is in no way an excuse for my actions.”
Rivera is a bilingual writer and reporter covering the New York Yankees and MLB for ESPN and ESPN Deportes. She claims she was fired for more than just insults.
“I’m a professional player with a great reputation in baseball,” Rivera told the Post. “I feel like I’ve been singled out by a group of people with whom I have a longstanding professional disagreement.”
Gaete is a freelance writer and the wife of MLB Vice President of Communications John Blundell.