A former makeup artist on the ESPN show Cold Pizza is suing the Worldwide Leader, claiming she was fired after she complained that host Jay Crawford and panelist Woody Paige sexually harassed her. In the suit, Bronx makeup artist Rita Ragone said she was pinched and fondled by sports commentator Woody Paige and subjected to crude sexual comments by ESPN host Jay Crawford at the show's studio in Manhattan.
Ragone claimed Paige once grabbed her backside so forcefully, she was "propelled forward and into the air."
A grab that actually propels someone into the air strikes me as more than just harassment and into the assault realm, but I'm an expert on neither the law nor grabbing backsides.
Paige denies the claim; Crawford could not be reached for comment. In the picture, Crawford is interviewing Roger Federer on the Cold Pizza set.
Hat tip: Deadspin.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-28-2007 @ 6:51PM
Kevin M. Coughlin said...
As a long time fan of " Cold Pizza" now rebranded as "First Take", I would have a hard time believing these accusations. ESPN does not take these type of situations lightly and does not hesitiate to take action, just ask Harold Reynolds.
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6-28-2007 @ 10:56PM
Joe said...
Now we know why Woody is no longer on the show! I've been wondering what happen to him. I'd say that is could be true in Woody's case, but I'd think Jay has all the women he wants?
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6-29-2007 @ 4:34AM
carl said...
Jay has all the women he wants? lol Yea they just love hosts of second rate shows that even espn dont care bout..as for paige i can damn sure believe it
As for number 1 who says they dont take it lightly..yea they do..just ask mike tirico and others
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6-29-2007 @ 8:14AM
JAB said...
"As a long time fan of " Cold Pizza" now rebranded as "First Take", I would have a hard time believing these accusations."
>>>>>
Why is that? Being a long-time viewer has given you insight into the interface between the hosts and this make-up artist? As a long-time viewer of NBC football I had a hard time believing, or even accepting, that OJ Simpson could take a knife and nearly cut his wife's head clean off!! What you are watching is nothing but a persona.
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6-29-2007 @ 3:17PM
Zenophon Abraham said...
This lawsuit basically justifies what I claimed was a kind of culture where many male ESPN anchors engaged in the kind of behavior that Harold Reynolds was fired for. He was basically being one of the guys, at that, just "hugged" an intern:
http://bballbiz.blogspot.com/2006/11/harold-reynolds-suing-espn-for-firing.html
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6-29-2007 @ 8:28PM
K DOG said...
LADIES WHEN WILL YOU LEARN THATS WHAT BACKSIDES ARE FOR. YOU GUYS WERE PUT HERE TO PLEASE MEN. SO WHAT IF HE/THEY GRABBED YOUR A%%^. WOMEN KILL ME WITH THIS MESS...YALL WILL REMOVE A GOLF BALL FROM A WATER HOSE JUST TO GET IN THE SAME ROOM WITH MONEY, AND AS SOON AS MONEY SHOWS IT HAS NO USE FOR YOU , YOU WANT TO RUN AND TELL. IF YOU WANT TO BE RESPECTED STOP CHASING MEN WITH MONEY, GET BACK IN THE KITCHEN AND MAKE OUR SANDWICHS, AND DIRTY UP THOSE KNEES!!!!
TELLING IT LIKE IT IS!!!!!
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7-23-2007 @ 2:20PM
Lynn Rubw said...
Thank God that Dana Jacobson is back..Thought we lost her..She is a gorgeous woman and a Plus for the program..Use her more..
LAR
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8-07-2007 @ 2:13PM
chelsea sheil said...
Has Dana Jacobson been fired or reassigned?
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