ESPN fires Curt Schilling after anti-transgender post on Facebook
Sports network calls the former All-Star pitcher's reposting of comic lampooning transgender people "unacceptable."
Former All-Star pitcher Curt Schilling was fired from his job as an ESPN baseball analyst on Wednesday after intense criticism over posts he made on Facebook about transgender people.
Schilling, who had worked at the sports network as a color analyst since 2010, reposted an image this week that lampooned critics of recent laws passed in North Carolina and other states. The image, which depicted an overweight man wearing a blond wig and revealing women's clothing, included the phrase: ''Let him in! To the restroom with your daughter or else you're a narrow minded, judgmental, unloving, racist bigot who needs to die!!!''
Schilling then added the following comment: "A man is a man no matter what they call themselves. I don't care what they are, who they sleep with, men's room was designed for the penis, women's not so much. Now you need laws telling us differently? Pathetic."
In a statement announcing Schilling's dismissal, ESPN called Schilling's conduct unacceptable.
"ESPN is an inclusive company," ESPN said. "Curt Schilling has been advised that his conduct was unacceptable and his employment with ESPN has been terminated."
Schilling could not immediately be reached for comment.