Ex-commentator sues ESPN after being fired for Venus Williams remark
A tennis commentator dropped by ESPN for a remark about Venus Williams during the Australian Open has sued the sports network for wrongful termination.
Former tennis pro Doug Adler maintains he was describing Williams’ aggressive style last month as “guerrilla” tactics and not comparing her with a “gorilla.”
He apologized for his poor word choice, but was let go from ESPN mid-tournament.
Adler filed suit Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, saying he has wrongly been branded a racist and lost work because of the controversy. The suit calls for punitive financial damages, but doesn’t name an amount.
ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys says the network has not seen the lawsuit and has no comment.
Offended viewers called for Adler to be fired because they believed he had compared Williams, who is African American, with a gorilla.
ALSO
Chargers set season ticket prices for first season in Los Angeles
Dana White on possible Conor McGregor-Floyd Mayweather bout: ‘No deal is even close to being done’
For these Los Angeles Dodgers-loving couples, paradise by the scoreboard light
More to Read
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.