Sports Illustrated continues to be the same in name only after announcing a high-profile, cost-cutting move Friday afternoon, firing senior writer Grant Wahl.
Recently, Wahl hasn’t shied away from expressing disdain for the way Maven operates Sports Illustrated. Days before he was fired, Wahl shared concern over Maven using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to permanently reduce his salary.
A 23-year journalist for SI, Wahl was given the ax with no severance pay, a move that was met with criticism on social media. But Maven quickly sent an internal memo condemning Wahl, painting him as a selfish employee for complaining about taking a paycut during trying times for everyone.
“Every senior staff member volunteered to put their personal budgeted future at risk, to save jobs and ensure stable salaries for those making less. Everyone, that is, but one person,” CEO of Maven, Jim Heckman wrote in the memo obtained by Front Office Sports. “This person made more than $350,000 last year to infrequently write stories that generated little meaningful viewership or revenue.”
“To complain about a personal pay cut when 31 others had lost their jobs is incomprehensible in light of the sacrifices others made to help limit layoffs and maintain liveable salaries for our staff. Such a me-first attitude is not part of the tradition and culture Maven is committed to maintaining,” the memo continued.
“We’ve decided to direct what would have been this person’s salary into additional severance pay and health benefits for those laid off who need it most.”
Wahl quote tweeted the memo shared by Ian Thomas of Front Office Sports, defending his position, stating he writes frequently and his base salary was “far below” the listed $350,000.
“I told Maven I was fine taking a 30% pay cut during the pandemic. But it was shameful to try to push through a permanent 30% cut beyond the pandemic,” Wahl added on Twitter.
Late last month, projecting a $30 million decline in revenue this year, Maven laid off 31 employees including nine from SI’s editorial department. Longtime SI staffers Chris Ballard, Jack Dickey, and Laken Litman were part of the round of layoffs two weeks ago, while Wahl had remained with other high-profile writers such as Pat Forde and Tom Verducci.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
