What happened to Keyshawn, JWill, and Max?
Up till June, listeners to ESPN radio could tune in weekday mornings and pay attention skilled sports research from the display Keyshawn, JWill & Max. Unfortunately, that wasn’t popular sufficient to continue to exist a massive spherical of layoffs through guardian company Disney.
Recommended VideosThere’s some other wrinkle right here: ahead of the layoffs even happen, two of the 3 hosts were fired from the community, but we’ll get to that during a 2nd.
What used to be the ‘Keyshawn, JWill, and Max?’ show?
“It suits flawlessly.”@RealJayWilliams says that Bradley Beal could be absolute best for the Warriors. #KJM pic.twitter.com/GgaXD4dItP
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) June 15, 2023The display used to be hosted via former NFL megastar Keyshawn Johnson, former NBA player Jay Williams, and TV host Max Kellerman. It coated the sports information of the day with both opinion and analysis. On paper, it looked like a fit made in heaven.
It didn’t harm that that they had more than 1,000,000 fans on Twitter. However, the network wanted something new, and the rankings weren’t mind-blowing, and ESPN New York replaced it with the DiPietro & Rothenberg morning show.
What happened to ‘Keyshawn, JWill, and Max?’
ESPN let go of Suzy Kolber, Steve Young, Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson, Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, Todd McShay, Matt Hasselbeck, Ashley Brewer, Joon Lee, LaPhonso Ellis.
There are about 10 more expected to be let move these days pic.twitter.com/y09JMxPyIq
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) June 30, 2023The display used to be cancelled in June, a couple of weeks prior to Keyshawn and Max had been fired. The dismissals were a part of Disney’s three rounds of layoffs, the place greater than 20 top journalists and analysts have been let cross.
Initially, those layoffs weren't intended to have an effect on on-air personalities, which obviously turned out to be untrue. The complete number of layoffs wanted used to be 7,000. That’s a large number of sports other folks.
Kellerman used to be a hot assets on the corporate. He used to be an integral a part of First Take until Stephen A. Smith decided to change up the format of the show. Kellerman got his own display This Just In, in addition to being teamed up with Johnson and Williams.
Unfortunately, neither could get the attention wanted to warrant no longer being cancelled. Despite being fired through the corporate, Johnson nonetheless gets the $18 million he used to be promised as per his contract.
An interior memo by ESPN, reported by the New York Post, provided some perception into the firing rationale.
“In order to establish additional cost financial savings, ESPN decided it essential to flip the associated fee control focal point to public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun. This workout will come with a small workforce of job cuts in the temporary and an ongoing center of attention on managing prices after we negotiate person contract renewals within the months ahead.”
The memo went on to say that “those are difficult selections” that will impact “people who have an incredible have an effect on on our corporate.”
Considering the volume of their salaries, they’re doing simply advantageous.
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