Sports personality Charissa Thompson has clarified her previous statements about fabricating sideline reports, stating that she “chose the wrong words” in a recent podcast interview. Thompson caused a stir on social media when she appeared on the “Pardon My Take” podcast and admitted to occasionally creating fictional reports during her time as a sideline reporter for football games.
Key Takeaway
Charissa Thompson has apologized for her choice of words and clarified that she never fabricated reports. She explained that in the absence of information from coaches, she would use her observations from the first half to craft her reports, focusing on areas of improvement for teams without attributing the information to specific players or coaches.
During the Barstool Sports show, Thompson revealed that if a coach refused to provide her with information or if she was running out of time during a broadcast, she would make up details about the action on the field. She explained, with a smile, that she believed coaches would not correct her, so she felt comfortable inventing reports on the spot.
This admission drew criticism from fellow sideline reporters, including Lisa Salters, a longtime ESPN journalist, who expressed shock, disappointment, and disgust with Thompson’s comments. Molly McGrath, Jenna Laine, Tracy Wolfson, and Laura Okmin also voiced their disapproval.
In a statement shared on her Instagram page, Thompson addressed the backlash and denied ever lying or being unethical during her career as a sports broadcaster. She admitted that she should have used different words to describe the situation and expressed regret for any confusion caused.
Thompson further explained that when coaches did not provide any information that could enhance her report, she would rely on her own observations from the first half. For example, if a team struggled on third downs, she would highlight this as an area for improvement in the second half. She emphasized that she would never attribute her statements to specific players or coaches in these instances.
Charissa Thompson, 41, had worked as a sideline reporter for several networks, including Fox, before transitioning to her current role as a host for “Thursday Night Football” in 2022.
