Charissa Thompson has addressed her revelation that she would make up reports when she worked as an NFL sideline reporter.
The Fox Sports host, who also hosts “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video, took to her Instagram with an explanation behind her comments — which she made during a recent appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast.
“Ok, let’s address the elephant in the room,” Thompson wrote. “I have a responsibility to myself and my employers to clarify what is being reported. When on a podcast this week, I said I would make up reports early in my career when I worked as a sideline reporter before I transitioned to my current host role.
“Working in media I understand how important words are and I chose the wrong words to describe the situation. I’m sorry. I have never lied about anything or been unethical during my time as a sports broadcaster.
“In the absence of a coach providing any information that could further my report I would use information that I learned and saw during the first half to create my report.”
Thompson provided an example.
“If a team was 0 for 7 on 3rd down, that would clearly be an area they need to improve in the second half. In these instances I never attributed anything I said to a player or coach.”
Thompson, who has received criticism from across the media industry, expressed her respect for sideline reporters.
“I have nothing but respect for sideline reporters and for the tireless work they put in behind the scenes and on the field,” she continued. “I am only appreciative and humbled to work alongside some of the best in the business and call them some of my best friends.”
Thompson faced backlash from fellow reporters — including Tracy Wolfson of CBS Sports and Lisa Salters of ESPN — on social media after she claimed she would “make up reports sometimes” while she worked as a sideline reporter.
“I’ve said this before,” Thompson said on the “PMT” podcast. “I haven’t been fired to saying it, but I’ll say it again. I would make up the report sometimes, because (a) the coach wouldn’t come out at halftime, or it was too late and I didn’t want to screw up the report.
“So I was like, ‘I’m just gonna make this up.’ Because first of all, no coach is gonna get mad if I say, ‘Hey, we need to stop hurting ourselves, we need to be better on third down, we need to stop turning the ball over and do a better job of getting off the field.’ They’re not gonna correct me on that. So I’m like, it’s fine, I’ll just make up the report.”
That part where Thompson said she “said this before” took place in 2008, according to Sports Illustrated writer Jimmy Traina.
Thompson explained that she “made up a report” at the time.
“I was covering every Lions game because I was a baby reporter and got all the s— games and it was the year they were 0–16 and [Detroit coach] Rod Marinelli at halftime, I was like, ‘Oh Coach, what adjustments are you gonna make at halftime?’ He goes, ‘That’s a great perfume you’re wearing,’” Thompson said at the time. “I was like, ‘Oh f—, this isn’t gonna work.’ I’m not kidding; I made up a report.”
A spokesperson for Amazon’s NFL on Prime Video, as well as Fox Sports declined to comment on the subject, according to The Athletic.
Dan “Big Cat” Katz and PFT Commenter, the hosts of the “PMT” podcast, took to X in defense of Thompson, as well as NFL Network host Rachel Bonnetta.
Kelly Stafford, who’s married to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and good friends with Thompson, shared a message about “female colleagues [and] fake friends” in a post on Instagram.
The Staffords also set her up with her current boyfriend Steve Cundari.
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