ESPN has fired Numbers Never Lie co-host and former NFL star Hugh Douglas following his public meltdown at a National Association of Black Journalists conference earlier this month.
According to reports a drunken Douglas engaged in a screaming match and near physical confrontation with show host Michael Smith during which he allegedly called the veteran reporter a “house n----r” and an “Uncle Tom.”
According to Sports Illustrated, Douglas became agitated after Smith refused to aid him in getting on a stage where the DJ was playing and threatened to beat him up. Witnesses said Smith tried to walk away, only to again be confronted by Douglas and causing the two to have to be separated by stunned onlookers.
In the wake of the simmering controversy, ESPN kept Douglas off the air for several days while Smith and fellow co-host Jemele Hill continued to work the show. On Tuesday, network officials publicly rendered their final decision.
“He no longer works for us effective today,” an ESPN spokesperson told SI. Shortly thereafter, Douglas took to Twitter to voice his thoughts.
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