Michael Irvin files a lawsuit against Marriott and his accuser. Plus: Charles Barkley may get his own primetime show on CNN; conflicting reports means it is unclear on whether President Joe Biden will give an interview during Super Bowl Sunday.
Michael Irvin files lawsuit against Marriott, accuser after being removed from Super Bowl coverage
After being pulled from ESPN’s and NFL Network’s Super Bowl coverage following an alleged incident at a hotel, Michael Irvin has filed a lawsuit against Marriott and his accuser for $100 million in damages, as obtained by TMZ. While official details on the incident have not been disclosed, Irvin has gone on various radio shows to give his side of the story. Irvin states that he had a 45 second conversation with a hotel employee in the lobby where the only physical contact was a handshake. In his lawsuit, his claim alleges that there is video evidence of the encounter and that there are multiple witnesses who can concur with his claims that they “only exchanged pleasantries.” (CBS Sports 2.10)
Charles Barkley in talks over a CNN primetime show
According to a Dylan Byers report for Puck News, TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley is in negotiations with CNN for a primetime news-oriented show. In 2022, Barkley signed a reported $200 million, 10-year extension with Warner Bros. Discovery, who owns both TNT and CNN. Barkley has previously dabbled in the political realm. He has considered running for governor in Alabama and even hosted American Race, a four episode documentary on race relations in the US for TNT. It is also not the first time Barkley has flirted with other television gigs, such as engaging in talks with LIV Golf in 2022. (Puck News 2.10)
Unclear if Biden will do Super Bowl interview
While it has become an annual ritual for American presidents to sit for an interview during the Super Bowl pregame show, it was unclear as of Friday evening whether President Biden will do so this year, as the White House and Fox offered conflicting statements throughout the day. Biden sat for interviews the past two years with CBS and NBC respectively but could skip Fox due to tensions between the network and the Oval Office. If the interview were to take place, it would be conducted by Mike Hill, a Fox Sports broadcaster, and Vivica A. Fox, a Black actress and television host, on Fox Soul. Fox Soul is a digital streaming service focused on African American content that was launched by Fox in 2020. Fox Soul is a division with no editorial overlap with Fox News, and has a much smaller audience. (NYT 2.10)
