Dan Orlovsky revealed in a recent interview that he deleted the tweets because he was concerned about how they would impact ESPN in the wake of the gender controversy involving Algerian boxer Imane Kherif.
Italian boxer Angela Carini tearfully withdrew from a bout with Kherif at the Paris Olympics, sparking questions and anger about whether Kherif is biologically female.
Kherif’s Algerian passport lists her as female – and sex change is banned in Algeria – but she was disqualified from last year’s world boxing championships after failing a test to prove she has XY chromosomes, as the Russian-led IBA claims.
As the internet reacted to the incident, Orlovsky posted to X, “Protect your daughters.”
In an interview with Derek Futterman of Bullet MediaOrlovsky later explained why he deleted the tweet.
“If you’re an employee of a large company, your social media pages can’t just be social media pages,” Orlovsky said. “That’s an illusion, so you have to represent yourself and the company you work for in an appropriate way.”
Orlovsky is one of ESPN’s most highly regarded NFL analysts.
His comments about the deleted tweets have drawn even more attention since ESPN fired Sam Ponder this week, citing budget cuts.
Ponder has been outspoken about transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
Robert Griffin III was also fired by the company.
2024 Paris Olympics
The IOC defended its decision to allow Kherif to compete, saying the IBA made an “arbitrary decision” to disqualify him.
Kheriff ultimately defeated China’s Yang Liu to win the gold medal in the 66 kg division.
“I fully deserve to be in this competition,” Kheriff said after winning gold. “I am a woman just like any other woman. I was born a woman, I live as a woman, and I deserve it.”
