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Crissy Froyd lost her job at USA TODAY over a tweet. Not a column, not a news report — a tweet critical of Dianna Russini after the NFL reporter’s resignation in the wake of the Mike Vrabel scandal. Now, a full-time USA TODAY columnist named Nancy Armour has published a piece calling Caitlin Clark’s flopping “dangerous” because it supposedly emboldens her “white nationalist” fanbase, referenced the murder of Emmett Till, and the publication’s response? A statement of support.Froyd noticed.
Why is Crissy Froyd calling out USA TODAY over the Nancy Armour-Caitlin Clark column?
The Armour column dropped Wednesday and immediately lit up sports media. The piece drew sharp criticism for invoking Emmett Till in the context of WNBA fandom, among several other claims that struck readers as inflammatory. Froyd, who had spent roughly 11 years with USA TODAY before being cut loose over the Russini post, did not stay quiet.“This is horrendous,” Froyd wrote. “I can’t believe they allowed this to even be said by Nancy Armour, let alone PUBLISHED. And, Lark-Marie Anton made clear to FOS that USA TODAY stands beside her because her piece was clearly labeled ‘Opinion.’ Seems there’s a double standard…”That last part is where it gets uncomfortable for USA TODAY. The publication’s chief communications and brand officer, Lark-Marie Antón, had issued a statement when Froyd was fired, saying her remarks did “not reflect our commitment to professionalism or uphold our principles of ethical conduct.” But when Armour’s column ignited a far larger firestorm, Antón’s tone shifted entirely. “Nancy is a Sports columnist, and her column is clearly labeled Opinion,” Antón said, adding that the column had been updated for clarity. “We will not be commenting further.”Armour herself released a statement acknowledging the Emmett Till reference was “inartful” and that she failed to provide enough context. But she held her ground on the core argument: “There is a history in this country of perceived threats to white women being weaponized against African-Americans, and the danger that poses to Black players in the league.”Froyd wasn’t buying the walkback. “Nice no-pology, Nancy Armour,” she wrote. “I guess USA TODAY is letting you keep your job after this and allowing you to make a statement on your own behalf while also not releasing one of their own about this? Interesting.”To be fair, there is one structural difference worth acknowledging. Armour is believed to be a full-time employee. Froyd was a contractor, and USA TODAY leaned on that distinction when they cut ties with her. That context matters, even if it doesn’t fully resolve the optics.Still, the comparison is difficult to shake. One woman fired for a pointed social media post. Another retained after a published column draws national outrage. Same publication, very different outcomes.
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