Amid the mass layoffs at ESPN on Wednesday came a report from Hollywood Reporter that several big-name ESPN personalities, including Ryen Russillo, would be taking on reduced roles moving forward.
When Russillo’s radio partner Danny Kanell announced he had been let go, it seemed to figure that Russillo was in trouble.
But as it turned out, Russillo was neither laid off nor reduced, and on Thursday he tweeted that he will continue to host his radio show on weekday afternoons and that he will return to the air Monday.
Ok…Im staying and I'll be on the radio Monday 1ET, just like the last 8 years…
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) April 27, 2017
Russillo tweeted that a rival agency had planted an incorrect report about him and others being reduced, for reasons unclear.
The reports of "a reduced role" were planted by an agency that should be worrying about clients, not me. Im not going anywhere. Working more
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) April 27, 2017
ESPN guru Jim Miller had reported the same story on Wednesday.
Toxic move of day: Agency out for retribution leaks incorrect names for @espn list to reporters who run with it. You've got to be kidding.
— jamesmiller (@JimMiller) April 26, 2017
Given the timing of Russillo’s announcement that he’s safe, it sounds as if maybe he agreed to renegotiate his contract with ESPN and settled on new terms Thursday.
Anyway, he will apparently be holding onto his radio show, though it obviously won’t be called Russillo & Kanell anymore. We’ve heard no word yet if Russillo will get a co-host or who it will be, but he’ll likely be flying solo next week.
Russillo said he will address the situation on his show Monday. He’s a good radio host who’s been part of ESPN’s lineup for a long time, first with Scott Van Pelt and then with Kanell, so it’s good to hear he’s sticking around.
