Kelly Stafford Stands With Charissa Thompson Amid False Reporting Controversy

Although it may not be a journalism school motto, Charissa Thompson has been compelled to embrace the saying while appearing on live television.

Kelly Stafford Stands With Charissa Thompson Amid False Reporting Controversy

It’s a difficult job for sideline reporters to get insights from coaches and players, who typically have little to say. But Thompson has a technique for reporters who are sidelined. Make something up if the coach isn’t providing you with any pertinent information to recite on air.

Kelly Stafford has defended Charissa Thompson, who has come under fire after acknowledging that she made up stories while working as a sideline reporter. The ethics of Thompson have been called into question by a number of female reporters, but Stafford—the wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford—took to social media to defend the sportscaster and attack her detractors.

In an Instagram post, Kelly wrote: “Wish I could tag all the people that need to hear this. Instead I’ll leave it here in hopes it reaches them.” The post included a photo with the caption: “A man makes a mistake or has his words taken out of context, his male colleagues/friends band together and support one another. A woman does the same thing, their female colleagues/fake friends do the opposite. Feels like some ‘feminists’ seem to only choose to feminists when it supports their agenda.”

 

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A post shared by Kelly Stafford (@kbstafford89)

Speaking recently on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, Thompson—who has reported for Fox Sports and “Thursday Night Football”—admitted that she occasionally made up stories when she couldn’t get in touch with the players or coach on the sideline. Thompson has worked for ESPN.

“I’ve said this before. I haven’t been fired for 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,’” Thompson said (h/t Awful Announcing).

That’s a significant admission, and it wasn’t warmly received, particularly by other people in the sports media.

 

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