ESPN has explained its controversial decision to give one of the most prestigious awards in sports to Caitlyn Jenner, the long-retired Olympic athlete who came out as a transgender woman earlier this year.
The announcement that Jenner would receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at this year’s ESPYs Awards was met with some criticism, with sportscaster Bob Costa calling it a “crass exploitation play” designed to boost ratings.
But two ESPN executives, ESPYs co-executive producer Maura Mandt and ESPN senior vice president Connor Schell, publicly defended the honor in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
“Bruce Jenner could have easily gone off into the sunset as this American hero and never have dealt with this publicly,” Mandt said of the decision. “That is what the Arthur Ashe Courage Award is about, somebody from the athletic community who has done something that transcends sport.”
Read the full story at Sports Illustrated.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com