A dark cloud is now hanging over the WWE’s latest hire: Lee Fitting.
The WWE announced this week that Fitting is their new head of media and production.
Fitting was the senior vice president of production for ESPN and was with the company for 25 years before he was let go last December.
The Athletic reports today that ESPN was part of an Emmy scheme in which they would submit false names as entries for those who were not eligible under certain categories. If those entries won ESPN would have the statues re-engraved before handing them to their on-screen personalities. The false names would always carry the same initials. It appears this ploy may date back all the way to 1997.
The National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences told The Athletic that it had “identified a number of fictitious credits submitted by ESPN to multiple Sports Emmys competitions”.
There is no evidence that the on-air personalities were aware of the scheme.
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences did uncover ESPN’s ruse and Lee Fitting, among others, are now ineligible for any Emmy consideration in future.
“This was a misguided attempt to recognize on-air individuals who were important members of our production team. Once current leadership was made aware, we apologized to [The National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences] for violating guidelines,” said ESPN in a public statement.
Adding fuel to the fire, Andrew Marchand, a New York Sports Media columnist posted this on X:
It's been a bit of a mystery as to why Lee Fitting was let go by ESPN this summer, but I'm told the Emmy trophy name changing scheme was a factor in his dismissal.
Fitting was just hired by WWE as its head of media media and production.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) January 11, 2024
“Lee is a phenomenal leader and executive known for work that generates both critical acclaim and mass appeal,” stated WWE president Nick Khan in a press release welcoming Fitting to WWE. “Lee will be a tremendous addition to our stellar media and production team and play a key role in helping catapult WWE’s growth.”