Brittany May "Britt" McHenry (born May 28, 1986) is a television personality. She is the host of a show on WTTG Fox 5 in Washington, D.C.[1][2] McHenry was formerly an ESPN correspondent and a commentator on Fox Nation.[3]
Britt McHenry | |
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![]() McHenry at FedExField in August 2015 | |
Born | Brittany May McHenry May 28, 1986 Mount Holly, New Jersey, U.S. |
Personal
editMcHenry, the daughter of an Air Force Lt. Colonel,[4][5] was born in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, and grew up in Satellite Beach, Florida, where she graduated from Satellite High School in 2004.[6] A four-year varsity starter for the women's soccer team, she was teammates with future United States women's national soccer team player, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.[7] McHenry attended Stetson University and played on the Hatters soccer team as a midfielder for the 2004 season.[8][9] She also spent time as a model in college, working for the Wilhelmina Models agency.[4] After graduating magna cum laude in 2007 from Stetson, McHenry went on to Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. At Medill, she started covering stories in Chicago, Illinois.[10]
On February 27, 2020, McHenry revealed via Twitter, that on February 25, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and that "surgery is imminent".[11][12][13] She had brain surgery on March 4, 2020.[14]
Career
editAfter graduating from Medill School of Journalism,[15] McHenry began her career working for WJLA-TV, ABC Television's Washington affiliate, and its sister station NewsChannel 8 as a sports reporter and fill-in anchor. After two weeks at Fox Sports San Diego as a dugout reporter on the San Diego Padres telecasts, she returned to ABC 7.[16]
In March 2014, she left ABC7 to join ESPN as a Washington, D.C.-based bureau reporter. She served as correspondent for various shows including SportsCenter, Outside the Lines, NFL Live and Baseball Tonight.[17] On April 27, 2017, McHenry announced on Twitter that she was being let go by ESPN, with the NFL Draft being her last assignment. McHenry was part of a 100-person layoff that included Ed Werder, Jayson Stark and Jay Crawford.[18][19] In May 2018, McHenry tweeted that she was fired because she "was white and paid too much."[3]
Sexual harassment allegation
editIn 2019, McHenry accused FOX co-host and wrestler Tyrus of sexual harassment after he allegedly sent her a series of lewd text messages.[20] According to Fox News, the matter was investigated and resolved. However, on December 10, 2019, McHenry filed a sexual harassment suit[21] against Fox News and Murdoch. Subsequently, McHenry claimed that she lost the phone containing text messages she says are central to her claims.[22] In July 2021, she voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit and left the Fox network, apparently as part of a legal settlement.[23]
Towing incident
editOn April 16, 2015, a video of McHenry verbally berating and mocking a tow lot employee, Gina Michelle, using foul language was posted on LiveLeak.[24] McHenry later apologized on Twitter:
In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things... I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake.[25]
In response to the incident, ESPN suspended McHenry from the network for one week.[26] A day later, the towing company released a statement saying they did not want to see McHenry suspended or terminated as a result of her comments.[27][28][29]
References
edit- ^ Bondner, Brett (February 28, 2018). "Britt McHenry to host weekly news TV show". NY Daily News. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
- ^ "'Like It or Not,' Britt McHenry returns to D.C. airwaves with a weekly show". Washington Post. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ a b Katz, A.J. (July 26, 2018). "Former ESPN Reporter Britt McHenry to Join Fox News". AdWeek.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- ^ a b "The ESPN reporter (and future Mrs. Chris Hemsworth) explains her quick rise up the sports television mountain and tells why her career aspirations have shifted from Mia Hamm to Robin Roberts". JeffPearlman.com. December 2, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
- ^ "ESPN's Britt McHenry: "I Blame Myself, but the Video Is Not Who I Am"". marieclaire.com. December 12, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ Sangalang, Jennifer. "ESPN lays off Britt McHenry, Satellite High grad". floridatoday.com. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ Manahan, Kevin. "ESPN disciplines snotty Mount Holly native Britt McHenry for obnoxious rant at attendant", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 16, 2015. Accessed October 8, 2017. "McHenry, 28, was born in Mount Holly Township in 1986. She graduated from Satellite High School in 2004, where she was a teammate of professional soccer player Ashlyn Harris."
- ^ "All-time letterwinners". Stetson Women's Soccer 2009. Stetson University. September 24, 2009. p. 25. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ "#29 Brittany McHenry". Stetson University. Archived from the original on January 16, 2005. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ McHenry, Brittany (May 27, 2008). "Remember the troops, Army vet says, but get out of this war". Medill Reports. Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ @BrittMcHenry (February 24, 2020). "MRI tomorrow for neck and brain. Never had one before, pretty nervous" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @BrittMcHnenry (February 25, 2020). "I had good & bad news today. Overwhelmed by the support by friends & strangers alike. With the best surgeons and doctors. Just another thing to take on . Please I can't stress enough, make your check-ups. Get an MRI early. It could have saved me" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @BrittMcHenry (February 27, 2020). "I was trying to keep this relatively private. But as usual, things are being said without my consent. I have a brain tumor. I'm with an amazing medical team and surgery is imminent. Thank you for continued support and understanding at this time" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @BrittMcHenry (March 4, 2020). "I have brain surgery today. I'll be out recovering but had to say THANK YOU to former bosses, colleagues & friends from ESPN. Class act people. To @fox5dc, Fox News colleagues & @FDRLST for support. To EVERYONE reading this. Your kindness & words provided strength. #Fight pic.twitter.com/v5D7TRRrm8" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Satellite Beach Sportscaster Shines In Nation's Capital -". SpaceCoastDaily.com. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ Steinberg, Dan (March 12, 2014). "Britt McHenry on going to ESPN, but staying in D.C." Retrieved January 19, 2018 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
- ^ "Britt McHenry". ESPN MediaZone. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ Bonesteel, Matt; Boren, Cindy (May 1, 2017). "ESPN's massive round of layoffs hit familiar faces, including Marc Stein, Andrew Brandt and Adam Caplan". Retrieved January 19, 2018 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
- ^ "ESPN's former host Britt McHenry implies she was laid off over conservative views". FoxNews.com. June 27, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ Ali, Yashar (July 11, 2019). "Fox News Contributor Tyrus Sent Lewd Texts To Colleague: 'Pull Your Boobs Out'". HuffPost. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- ^ Darcy, Oliver (December 10, 2019). "Fox Nation host Britt McHenry files sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News". CNN. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ Ellefson, Lindsey (January 21, 2021). "Fox Nation's Britt McHenry Lost the Phone Linked to Her Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Claims". TheWrap. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ Falzone, Diana; Baragona, Justin (July 19, 2021). "Britt McHenry Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit With Fox News". The Daily Beast. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ Raissman, Bob (April 18, 2015). "Gender bender at ESPN? If Britt (Brat) McHenry was a man, she'd be out of a job". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ Britt McHerny Tweet on X
- ^ Mandell, Nina (April 16, 2015). "ESPN suspends Britt McHenry:Emotions [got] the best of me". ftw.usatoday.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ Yates, Clinton; Larimer, Sarah (April 17, 2015). "Towing company releases statement following Britt McHenry suspension". Washington Post. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ^ Parker, Ryan (April 17, 2015). "Tow company forgives Britt McHenry for rant, others out for blood". LA Times. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ^ Freed, Benjamin (April 17, 2015). "Arlington Towing Company in Britt McHenry Video Has a Long History of Complaints". Washingtonian. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
External links
edit- "Staff Bio. WJLA.com". WJLA, ABC 7. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2015.