Lee Fitting, the new head of WWE’s Media & Production teams (Kevin Dunn’s replacement), was recently ruled ineligible for future participation in the Emmy Awards due to a scheme to reserve awards for ESPN College Gameday stars.
The Athletic is reporting that Fitting, who was the SVP of Production for ESPN before his release in August, oversaw College Gameday among his productions, and was named in a scheme where ESPN inserted fake names in Emmy entries to assign those Emmys won to on-air personalities.
ESPN has issued the following statement to the The New York Post:
“Some members of our team were clearly wrong in submitting certain names that may go back to 1997 in Emmy categories where they were not eligible for recognition or statuettes. This was a misguided attempt to recognize on-air individuals who were important members of our production team. Once current leadership was made aware, we apologized to NATAS for violating guidelines and worked closely with them to completely overhaul our submission process to safeguard against anything like this happening again.”
Andrew Marchand of The Post also reports that the scheme was a factor in why Fitting left ESPN in August. He tweeted,
“It’s been a bit of a mystery as to why Lee Fitting was let go by ESPN this summer, but I’m told the Emmy trophy name changing scheme was a factor in his dismissal.
Fitting was just hired by WWE as its head of media media and production.”
It’s been a bit of a mystery as to why Lee Fitting was let go by ESPN this summer, but I’m told the Emmy trophy name changing scheme was a factor in his dismissal.
Fitting was just hired by WWE as its head of media media and production.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) January 11, 2024
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In a recent turn of events, Lee Fitting, the new head of WWE’s Media & Production teams, has been ruled ineligible for future participation in the Emmy Awards. This decision comes as a result of a scheme to reserve awards for ESPN’s “College Gameday” stars. Fitting, who previously served as the SVP of Production for ESPN before his release in August, oversaw “College Gameday” among his productions and was implicated in a scheme where fake names were inserted in Emmy entries to assign those Emmys won to on-air personalities.
According to The Athletic, ESPN inserted these fake names in an attempt to recognize on-air individuals who were important members of their production team. However, this misguided attempt violated guidelines set by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), which oversees the Emmy Awards. Once current leadership at ESPN became aware of the situation, they apologized to NATAS and worked closely with them to revamp their submission process to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
The New York Post reported that this scheme was a factor in Fitting’s departure from ESPN in August. Andrew Marchand of The Post tweeted that the Emmy trophy name changing scheme played a role in Fitting’s dismissal. Despite this controversy, Fitting has now been hired by WWE as its head of media and production.
This revelation has sparked interest and discussion among wrestling fans and industry insiders. It raises questions about the integrity of awards shows and the measures taken by organizations to ensure fair recognition. While ESPN has taken responsibility for their actions and implemented changes to prevent future misconduct, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and adherence to guidelines in the entertainment industry.
As wrestling fans, it is essential to stay informed about the latest news and developments in the industry. Websites like eWrestlingNews.com provide a reliable source for all your wrestling news. Additionally, you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated on the latest happenings in the world of wrestling.
In conclusion, Lee Fitting’s ineligibility for future participation in the Emmy Awards due to a scheme to reserve awards for ESPN’s “College Gameday” stars has caused a stir in the industry. ESPN has acknowledged their wrongdoing and taken steps to rectify the situation, while Fitting has found a new role in WWE. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity and transparency in the entertainment industry.