Boston Celtics reporter Amanda Pflugrad has slammed the incessant social media hypothesis surrounding the identification of the feminine worker who had an ‘inappropriate’ relationship with coach Ime Udoka.
Udoka was handed a one-year ban by the group this week – in addition to a ‘vital monetary penalty’ after ‘a number of violations of conduct guidelines’ – however the determination was made to maintain the identify of the lady concerned a secret.
Some have claimed this has led to unfair hypothesis on-line and has dragged a number of harmless girls into the rumors, and that time has been echoed by Pflugrad – herself an worker of the Celtics.
Amanda Pflugrad (proper) is a Celtics reporter who has been dragged into on-line rumors
Ime Udoka was suspended for the season for having a relationship with an unnamed staffer
‘As a feminine of the Celtics group, watching these previous few days unfold has been heartbreaking,’ she wrote on Twitter Friday.
‘Seeing uninvolved folks’s names thrown round within the media, together with mine, with such carelessness is disgusting. This can be a step backwards for ladies in sports activities who’ve labored arduous to show themselves in an business they should be in.’
Alongside the publish, she added: ‘It is time to converse up on this matter and to my feminine coworkers, I see you and I’m all the time right here #womeninsports.’
Over the previous few days, followers have taken to social media in an try to work out the identification of the lady, with numerous conspiracy theories being broadly shared.
This, unsurprisingly, has led to varied harmless events having their reputations tarnished, and Stephen A. Smith is amongst these urging the group to share extra data.
Pflugrad has slammed the ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘disgusting’ rumors flying round on-line
She is one in all many feminine members of workers within the group which were dragged in
‘At this specific second in time… Ime Udoka is an unhireable particular person,’ he mentioned on his ESPN First Take present. ‘However the unhireable portion, I’d make the declare, is primarily resulting from the truth that the story was leaked out and we are actually discussing it publicly.
‘The lady who elected to have a consensual relationship with him is just not in violation [of team policy]? He will get to get talked about and placed on entrance road – we do not know who she is.
‘What in regards to the different girls within the Celtics group who’ve been victimized as a result of incorrect assumptions have been made [about] their involvement? If you happen to knew precisely who it was, that may alleviate the considerations of all the opposite girls who’ve had their names paraded out into the streets. What about them?’
In keeping with The Athletic, some members of the Celtics discovered about Udoka’s relationship in July, and group leaders have been initially led to consider the connection was consensual.
Celtics majority proprietor Wyc Grousbeck got here down strongly on his suspended head coach
Boston Celtics head coach Udoka, pictured along with his longtime fiancé, actress Nia Lengthy
Nevertheless, sources instructed the publication that the lady not too long ago accused Udoka of constructing undesirable feedback in the direction of her, which led he group to launch inner interviews.
Crew president Brad Stevens and Grousbeck addressed the media on Friday, and strongly rebuked the now-suspended Udoka, noting that solely he was ‘going through penalty or reprimand.’
In keeping with Grousbeck, the group’s gamers are ‘very involved’ in regards to the scenario.
‘We expect our tradition may be very robust,’ he added. ‘We’re very happy with it. However this has shaken it. I do not suppose there’s a wider concern than what we have spent a number of months uncovering.’
Stephen A. Smith was very upset with how the Celtics dealt with Udoka’s reported affair
Boston assistant Joe Mazzulla will function interim coach all through the upcoming season
Smith took concern with how Grousbeck addressed the scenario and made as a lot clear on First Take.
‘I am not gonna regurgitate what was mentioned, nevertheless it was very very alarming, extremely one-sided, and so far as I am involved, based mostly on this press convention there is no such thing as a motive on earth, proper now, why Ime Udoka continues to be the pinnacle coach of the Boston Celtics albeit a suspended one,’ he mentioned.
Joe Mazulla, a 34-year-old who served as a Celtics assistant final yr, would be the interim coach for the 2022-23 season.
