Bill Simmons Earns Twitter Backlash Over New York Times Comment

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Bill Simmons is getting roughed up on Twitter for something he said in a New York Times piece outlining his company’s hiring practices and lack of diversity at the top of the food chain.

While he agreed his company “fell short” when it comes to diversity, it’s a comment he made regarding podcast talent that has people upset — the last quote attributed to Simmons in the blurb below.

Above all, the four former employees said, it was difficult for black staff members to win more responsibility and visibility at the company — especially since late 2017, when company leaders appeared to make podcasting a priority. At that point, they said, top editors started claiming shows for themselves.

The outlet’s popular Rewatchables podcast, in which staff members revisit old movies, led by Mr. Simmons, allowed for a variety of guests when it started. By the spring of 2018, the ensemble approach faded as the show came to rely more on Mr. Simmons along with Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan, both founding editors who are white.

“The Rewatchables was pitched as, ‘Let’s get the rest of you participating in podcasts,’” Mr. Collins said. “It very quickly became Sean, Bill and Chris.”

Mr. Simmons said by email that the company needed to spotlight its best podcasters. “It’s a business,” he said. “This isn’t Open Mic Night.”

(via New York Times)

The quote didn’t initially strike me as offputting because it came right after the mention of Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessy getting more airtime than others on The Rewatchables. They’re all extremely talented podcasters and would be featured prominently at any company. When you dive in deeper and understand the company’s history, it’s easier to see the tone-deafness and hypocrisy of the quote, especially in the grand scheme of the article; Simmons is guilty of treating his podcast network like an Open Mic Night, just not everyone is allowed. His teenage daughter and friend from college were given their own shows, and other college friends/relatives are frequently brought on the big stage for segments or indefensible marathons (all of which I skip or have never bothered trying). They’re not on the same level and likely wouldn’t have the opportunity elsewhere. When that’s the precedent you set, it’s easy as an employee to think you’re in a company that values who you know over merit.

In response to the quote, popular Dallas Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr. called Simmons “a joke,” several others pointed out his daughter’s show specifically, and some dug up a Simmons’ take from his ESPN days that’s impossible to justify.

https://twitter.com/raesanni/status/1275183156266598401

Some of the harshest and most detailed criticism came from two writers who worked at The Ringer in the past, Lindsay Zoladz and Dave Schilling. Each posted long threads on Twitter in light of the story/comments, both outlining an unsavory work environment under Simmons.

“I felt like I wasn’t taken seriously/patronized by half the staff,” Schilling wrote. “It’s a toxic work environment, period. It’s one that’s hostile to its union. No one should have been shocked that an employee had a breakdown while on staff.”

Schilling, who’s African-American, also claimed he wasn’t paid for his co-hosting duties on one of The Ringer’s podcasts and was “ignored” when he sought out actual employment. He did write for the site briefly as a freelancer, though Schilling said one of the “higher ups” was responsible for the relationship ending.

https://twitter.com/dave_schilling/status/1275196561681608706

The last tweet in the Schilling’s thread clarified that he doesn’t hate Bill Simmons, only that he’s disappointed in how he runs The Ringer and treats employees.

“The last thing I will say before I log off for my own sanity: I do not hate Bill Simmons. What a waste of time it would be to hate someone like him. But, I am incredibly disappointed in the way he runs his company and the way he treats his employees.”

(via Dave Schilling/Twitter)

Zoladz, who left The Ringer in the fall of 2019, bumped a tweet on her feed from earlier this month that implored Simmons to “value and show basic respect” to writers. She continued with the same sentiment when discussing the company’s diversity.

“Hiring a diverse staff is about so much more than just the hiring,” she tweeted. “You have to continue to work every single day to make everyone feel valued, respected, and like their ideas are worth developing.”

The lack of diversity at The Ringer was a hot-button issue going into the article, then Simmons’ quote made it worse because his track record shows he’s only willing to waive the “It’s not Open Mic Night” rule if it benefits his inner-circle. With such a strong backlash, he’ll have to respond. The actual New York Times tweet everyone is quoting doesn’t 100% match the article — his answer wasn’t a blanket response to diversity at The Ringer like the tweet leads on — and getting quoted via email is always a little tricky. I think he’ll acknowledge the obvious issue but these two factors should be noted as well. He doesn’t deserve to be canceled, he just needs to understand the power he possesses. Maybe this helps in the long run.

UPDATE: Simmons responded briefly on his podcast.