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Twitter Rips Into ESPN After Decision to Move Robert Lee From Announcing Game

Confederate General Robert E. Lee, left, and ESPN announcer Robert Lee / Twitter
August 23, 2017

Twitter had a field day after news broke Tuesday that ESPN removed an announcer named Robert Lee from broadcasting an upcoming Virginia Cavalier football game because of the similarity of his name to Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

The story was broken by Outkick The Coverage's Clay Travis, who has coined the term "MSESPN" to suggest ESPN has a liberal slant, combining the news network and MSNBC. ESPN ultimately confirmed the seemingly unbelievable story, saying it collectively made the decision along with Lee as the tragedy in Charlottesville, Va. unfolded, because "in that moment it felt right to all parties."

As Travis pointed out, Robert Lee the announcer is not in fact the deceased Civil War general, whose monument removal in Charlottesville spurred white supremacist protests and ultimately bloodshed earlier this month. Lee is Asian-American, not a general, and alive.

Twitter users responded with amusement, disbelief, and suggestions for announcers they wished shared names with Confederate generals so they would not call games.

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/900188123367432192

https://twitter.com/kellyaub90/status/900129196579729413

https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/900120668913774592

https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/900168639843717121

https://twitter.com/MikayesFiona/status/900159805486182402

Even ESPN's own Bob Ley mocked the network.

Published under: ESPN , Football , Sports