Simmons expects to make personnel announcements soon that will show that they are making progressGETTY IMAGES
The Ringer's Bill Simmons has "notched a series of wins" since leaving ESPN in '15, but a recent episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast," one of The Ringer’s "most popular shows, provoked a backlash from staff members," according to Noam Scheiber of the N.Y. TIMES. During an episode recorded the week of June 1 -- with the social injustice protests erupting around the country -- co-host Ryen Russillo complimented Simmons on his "hiring practices, praising his boss for 'the jobs and the opportunities that you’ve given a diverse group.'" But the episode, tabbed "A Truly Sad Week In America," set off a "social media backlash." The Ringer Union noted in a June 1 Twitter post that the outlet "had no black editors or staff writers covering" the NBA or the NFL. It also said that more than 85% of the speakers on Ringer podcasts last year "were white." Simmons in an email wrote The Ringer “fell short” on diversity. He added that he "expects to make personnel announcements soon that will show that the company is making progress." The Ringer has "six black editorial staff members out of about 90 employees." Simmons said that being a part of Spotify "would make recruitment easier" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/23).
