ESPN's Michelle Beadle Releases Statement On Her Relationship With WWE

ESPN's Michelle Beadle issued the following:

"I am a fan. A fan of sports. A fan of television, good and bad. A fan of 80’s music. Of the Spurs. Of cheesy movies. Of John Oliver. I’ve been a fan of great people and some I shouldn’t have revered at all, those who’ve had their share of transgressions in life. And as of a couple days ago, I was a fan of the WWE. My fandom dates back about 18 years, off and on. I loved the drama. I loved the characters. The over-the-top bravado exhibited by men as they flipped thru the air in an athletic well-choreographed dance. It was pure entertainment, from which I got great joy. Through the years, WWE has been great to me, hooking me up with amazing seats, and giving me access that most fans would love to have. And for that, I’m thankful. I’ve had Superstars on my shows, and willingly plugged numerous campaigns and events for the company. I’ve publicly gone to bat for them as, shockingly, wrestling fans tend to be on the receiving end of some ridicule. I did all of it because I was a fan. But this past weekend has been one that I will remember for a long time to come.

I’m a fan of Triple H. As a wrestler, he was a big part of many of my memories, even as recently as this year's Wrestlemania. As an Executive Vice President, he's successfully led the charge in building the WWE's farm system, NXT. WWE proudly lends its name and backing to Susan G. Komen, Make-A-Wish, and Boys and Girls Clubs, to name a few. They’ve been deeply involved in building an Anti-Bullying campaign, Be A Star. And just last year, Stephanie McMahon strengthened the company’s domestic violence policies: “We have a zero tolerance policy for domestic abuse. Upon arrest for such misconduct, our superstars are immediately suspended and should there be a conviction, that superstar or diva would be terminated.” That's from the Wellness Policy that applies to all WWE talent. Imagine my confusion when, during the maelstrom of the weekend, I noticed a few tweets that may have, at any other time, gone unnoticed. Tweets that caused me to question my support of the WWE and the man who sits near the top of the company's food chain. "So why now," some have wondered. Because sometimes it takes a little longer to see the light. Triple H has continued to display his relationship with Floyd Mayweather through social media, the most recent being a hearty congratulations to the boxer following his victory Saturday night. It's not my place to say what one should and should not do on Twitter, especially during personal time. However the era in which we're living is rapidly changing. And the lines between one's corporate and private personas have blurred. Triple H has over two million followers. He’s one of the faces of a company that depends on a healthy public image. I realize he doesn’t speak for everyone, but does he realize that when he shows support to a convicted batterer, friend or not, it can effectively damage so much goodwill that the company is admittedly doing? It’s hard to sell a message of anti-bullying while slapping the ultimate bully on the back. I was a fan. A big fan. But it’s time to use my voice."