ESPN's working partnership with Barstool Sports has come to an abrupt end.
The company's president John Skipper announced that Barstool Van Talk, which aired its debut episode last week, has been cancelled.
Statement from ESPN President John Skipper about Barstool Van Talk: pic.twitter.com/ysgSKDvmjx
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) October 23, 2017
Barstool Van Talk featured hosts Dan "Big Cat" Katz and PFT Commenter of Barstool Sports' Pardon My Take podcast. However, according to Skipper, ESPN wanted to distance itself from the Barstool Sports website and content as a whole.
Katz, PFT Commenter and producer Hank Lockwood all tweeted responses shortly after the news broke on Monday afternoon.
I'm obviously beyond heartbroken, but if you know me, Hank, and PFT you know we won't stay down from this for long.
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) October 23, 2017
If u have two epsodes of a TV Show you dont have one
— PFTCommenter (@PFTCommenter) October 23, 2017
Welp. Time2 get drunk
— PFTCommenter (@PFTCommenter) October 23, 2017
RIPIP our sweet prince BVT
— Henry Ease (@hen_ease) October 23, 2017
A statement on today's news: pic.twitter.com/JyaxG4l5kO
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) October 23, 2017
Several of their Barstool Sports colleagues also chimed in to give their support.
Imagine landing 2 of the funniest dudes in the world and then losing them because you got pushed around by a few employees? 😂😂 How DUMB
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) October 23, 2017
What’s even better is allowing those guys to hit the free agent market for other networks. Worst business decision ever.
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) October 23, 2017
So to recap:
1) set the precedent that your employees can bully you
2) lost all new viewers
3) handed them to competition
Well done. 🙄🙄🙄
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) October 23, 2017
ESPN just cut LeBron after he went 26, 9, and 6 in his first game. Their loss.
— Clemzingis (@TheClemReport) October 23, 2017
Spinzone: I no longer have to look up what channel ESPN2 is anymore
— Clemzingis (@TheClemReport) October 23, 2017
First Nate at Night, now BVT. Only the good die young. https://t.co/UebpXqW9QI
— Nate (@BarstoolNate) October 23, 2017
I'm really proud of what Big Cat, PFT, Hank, and Liam did, and will continue to do. Shame it didn't work out with ESPN.
— Robbie Fox (@RobbieBarstool) October 23, 2017
Barstool founder Dave Portnoy addressed the cancellation of Barstool Van Talk during an "Emergency Press Conference" at the Barstool Sports headquarters live via Twitter and Facebook following ESPN's announcement.
https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/922564997108109313
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