AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Former ESPN announcer Ron Franklin has sued the network over his firing for reportedly berating a female colleague.
The wrongful termination lawsuit filed Monday in state district court in Franklin’s hometown of Austin, Texas, claims ESPN had no grounds for dismissing him. The suit says Franklin exchanged “contentious words” with a colleague who repeatedly interrupted a private conversation before the pair worked at the Chick-fil-A Bowl without incident.
Sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards has said Franklin called her “sweet baby” in a condescending tone. Franklin apologized, was pulled off the Fiesta Bowl and later fired.
An ESPN spokesman said Thursday the Bristol, Conn.-based network “is confident that the action we took was appropriate.”
Franklin worked for ESPN since 1987, calling primarily college football and basketball.
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