ESPN has decided to delay a planned broadcast of an Apex Legends esports tournament following this month’s mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.
ESPN originally planned to broadcast a taped Apex Legends competition across various Disney-owned channels, including APC, ESPN2, and ESPNEWS. Those plans have seemingly changed following two mass shootings that occurred last weekend, 13-hours apart. Apex Legends is Respawn Entertainment’s free-to-play, battle royale first-person shooter.
Esports reporter Rod Breslau first published an internal memo sent to ABC Affiliates explaining that ABC will, “no longer air ‘EXP Invitational Apex Legends at X Games‘ on Sunday, August 11, 2019 in the 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET/3:00 -4:00 PM PT time period.” Bloomberg confirmed these plans with an anonymous, internal source.
Source: IGN.com ESPN Delays Apex Legends Esports Broadcast Following Mass Shootings