In a series of tweets on Saturday, ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson held himself accountable better than most legacy media for reporting false information about the Rittenhouse trial.
One day after Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all accounts, Jefferson took to Twitter saying he “made a mistake during a very emotional time” which made him “say something that was false.”
I want to address something. I made a mistake during a very emotional time. I said something that was false. I have covered very emotional moments in my career from the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd to the tragic death of Kobe and GiGi and the families in the crash.
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) November 20, 2021
The sports analyst continued to say Rittenhouse “did not bring a gun across state lines,” realizing he had read “something that was false.”
I read something that was false. He did not bring a gun across state lines. I apologize for this and I will be BETTER. I’m a man and will not hide. I have spoken for 1000’s of hours on Television and crucial mistake are rarely made but when they are made they should be addressed.
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) November 20, 2021
Jefferson’s comments come after the misleading coverage of the Rittenhouse trial by legacy media that indicated the 17-year-old drove across state lines, to Kenosha, Wisconsin, with an illegally acquired rifle to a town he had no connection to.
Additionally, celebrities have belittled Rittenhouse in public. Author Stephen King called Rittenhouse “eerily like Eric Harris, one of the Columbine shooters.” Lebron James mocked Rittenhouse’s emotional response to his trial: “What tears?????,” he tweeted. “I didn’t see one,” James continued. “Man knock it off! That boy ate some lemon heads before walking into court.”
Following the trial, many have called for Rittenhouse to sue corporate media for defamation.
