ESPN and Disney have been accused of removing analyst Paul Finebaum from airwaves after he expressed interest in running for Alabama’s Senate seat as a Republican candidate. OutKick founder Clay Travis claimed that Finebaum, a longtime SEC football commentator, has been barred from appearing on ESPN shows, including “SportsCenter,” “First Take,” and “Get Up,” despite his decades-long presence on the network.
Travis cited sources stating that ESPN canceled all network appearances for Finebaum, a move he linked to the network’s recent handling of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s controversies. He criticized ESPN’s alleged double standards, noting that while Kimmel was reinstated after a four-day suspension, Finebaum faced immediate restrictions. “Will they rally for Finebaum as well?” Travis questioned.
Finebaum, who has been with ESPN since 2014, recently moved back to Alabama and planned to re-register as a Republican voter. His remarks about potential Senate ambitions reportedly led to his scheduling changes. An ESPN spokesperson denied the allegations, calling them “TOTALLY FALSE,” but Travis countered that Finebaum had not appeared on major shows since last Wednesday.
While Finebaum’s SEC Network appearances continued, his absence from high-profile ESPN programs sparked speculation about his political future. The network is reportedly testing other analysts in case he leaves for a Senate run. Finebaum previously cited the assassination of Charlie Kirk as a catalyst for his interest in politics, with sources suggesting Washington officials had already reached out to gauge his viability.