CNN's Rachel Nichols and ESPN's Michelle Beadle, "each of whom has detailed the domestic-violence history of Floyd Mayweather Jr., wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning that they had been denied credentials to the evening’s fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao." Nichols in a statement later yesterday said she was told she “would only be credentialed for the run-up events through the week, but in bold, italic letters the email stated ‘you do not have any access Saturday to any services or events.’” But she added that the Mayweather camp "eventually reversed its position." Beadle also later clarified her original claim, tweeting, "After hearing my credential was pulled, I went home. Told this morning that HBO was able to get it re-approved last night" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/3).
Swanson Communications President Kelly Swanson, whose company works with Mayweather Promotions, yesterday tweeted, "No one including ME banned @Rachel__Nichols from covering the fight. She is already credentialed. #Facts. ... And @MichelleDBeadle isn't even on the press list. She's credentialed through @HBOboxing. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2" (THE DAILY). Swanson yesterday said, "Michelle has always been credentialed through HBO. Rachel has always been credentialed through CNN. CNN gets one seat in the arena, they can choose whoever can sit there -- including Nichols" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/3). Swanson: "I’ll take it as a misunderstanding" (USATODAY.com, 5/2).
