ESPN Releases Statement on Artie Lange's Racial Tweets Involving Cari Champion

Comedian Artie Lange mentioned ESPN First Take host Cari Champion in a string of offensive tweets Tuesday, setting off a trending topic on Twitter, #iSupportCari, in which many came to her defense. On Wednesday, ESPN issued a statement on the situation.

"His comments were reprehensible and no one should be subjected to such hateful language," ESPN said, via Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch. "They objectify and demean one of our valued employees under the thin guise of 'comedy' and are offensive to all of us. We will not dignify them with any other comment."

Deitsch reported on the matter, providing links to Lange's tweets and noting that Champion declined to comment for his story.

Jemele Hill of ESPN reprimanded Lange in support of her colleague:

ESPN's Kevin Negandhi did something similar:

Lange has gone on to say through Twitter that his mother was "disgusted" by his comments about Champion. He even apologized to Champion specifically:

Champion has yet to issue a public response to Lange's posts.