Britt McHenry

Last updated

Britt McHenry
Britt McHenry Lions at Redskins August 20 2015.jpg
McHenry at FedExField in August 2015
Born
Brittany May McHenry

(1986-05-28) May 28, 1986 (age 40)
Mount Holly, New Jersey, U.S.
Education Stetson University (BA)
Northwestern University (MS)
Occupations
  • television personality
  • sports journalist
  • political commentator
  • government employee
Employer(s) WJLA-TV (2008–2014)
ESPN (2014–2017)
WTTG (2017–2022)
Fox News (2018–2021)
Real America's Voice (2021-2026)
The Spectator (2025–2026)
United States Department of State (2026)
Political party
 Republican

Brittany May McHenry (born May 28, 1986) is an American television personality. She was the host of a show on WTTG Fox 5 in Washington, D.C. [1] [2] McHenry was formerly an ESPN correspondent and a commentator on Fox Nation. [3] She most recently worked as a press advisor at the U.S. State Department under the second Trump Administration, a post she held for less than two months before being asked to resign following an incident where she was seemingly publicly intoxicated and threw a drink on a man at a Washington Wizards game. [4]

Contents

Personal

McHenry, the daughter of an Air Force Lt. Colonel, [5] [6] was born in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, and grew up in Satellite Beach, Florida, where she graduated from Satellite High School in 2004. [7] A four-year varsity starter for the women's soccer team, she was teammates with future United States women's national soccer team player, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. [8] McHenry attended Stetson University and played on the Hatters soccer team as a midfielder for the 2004 season. [9] [10] She also spent time as a model in college, working for the Wilhelmina Models agency. [5] After graduating magna cum laude in 2007 from Stetson, McHenry went on to Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. At Medill, she started covering stories in Chicago, Illinois. [11]

On February 27, 2020, McHenry revealed via Twitter, that on February 25, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and that "surgery is imminent." [12] [13] [14] She had brain surgery on March 4, 2020. [15]

Career

After graduating from Medill School of Journalism, [16] McHenry began her career working for WJLA-TV, ABC Television's Washington affiliate, and its sister station NewsChannel 8 as a sports reporter and fill-in anchor. After two weeks at Fox Sports San Diego as a dugout reporter on the San Diego Padres telecasts, she returned to ABC 7. [17]

In March 2014, she left ABC7 to join ESPN as a Washington, D.C.-based bureau reporter. She served as correspondent for various shows including SportsCenter , Outside the Lines , NFL Live and Baseball Tonight . [18] On April 27, 2017, McHenry announced on Twitter that she was being let go by ESPN, with the NFL Draft being her last assignment. McHenry was part of a 100-person layoff that included Ed Werder, Jayson Stark and Jay Crawford. [19] [20] In May 2018, McHenry tweeted that she was fired because she "was white and paid too much." [3]

In September 2026, it was reported that McHenry was joining the State Department as a press advisor. [21] [22] She was asked to resign from that position on October 23, 2026. [4]

Sexual harassment allegation

In 2019, McHenry accused Fox co-host and wrestler George Murdoch of sexual harassment after he allegedly sent her a series of lewd text messages. [23] According to Fox News, the matter was investigated and resolved. However, on December 10, 2019, McHenry filed a sexual harassment suit [24] against Fox News and Murdoch. Subsequently, McHenry claimed that she lost the phone containing text messages she says are central to her claims. [25] In July 2021, she voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit and left the Fox network, apparently as part of a legal settlement. [26]

Towing incident

On April 16, 2015, a video of McHenry verbally berating and mocking a tow lot employee, Gina Michelle, using foul language was posted on LiveLeak. [27] McHenry later apologized on Twitter:

In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things... I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake. [28]

In response to the incident, ESPN suspended McHenry from the network for one week. [29] A day later, the towing company released a statement saying they did not want to see McHenry suspended or terminated as a result of her comments. [30] [31] [32]

Drink-throwing incident

On October 21, 2026, while attending a Washington Wizards game, Britt was filmed throwing a drink at a spectator before she was escorted out while waving and blowing kisses to a booing crowd. [33] . Following this incident she was fired from the Department of State on October 23, 2026. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Bondner, Brett (February 28, 2018). "Britt McHenry to host weekly news TV show". New York Daily News . Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ Steinberg, Dan (February 27, 2018). "Britt McHenry returns to D.C. airwaves with a weekly show". Like It or Not. The Washington Post . Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Katz, A.J. (July 26, 2018). "Former ESPN Reporter Britt McHenry to Join Fox News". Adweek . Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Belt, Andy (October 23, 2026). "Britt McHenry let go from State Department after throwing drink at Wizards game". The Washington Times . Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Pearlman, Jeff (December 2, 2014). "The ESPN reporter (and future Mrs. Chris Hemsworth) explains her quick rise up the sports television mountain and tells why her career aspirations have shifted from Mia Hamm to Robin Roberts". JeffPearlman.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  6. ↑ Pesta, Abigail (December 12, 2016). "ESPN's Britt McHenry: "I Blame Myself, but the Video Is Not Who I Am"". Marie Claire . Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  7. ↑ Sangalang, Jennifer (April 28, 2017). "ESPN lays off Britt McHenry, Satellite High grad" . Florida Today . Archived from the original on November 3, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  8. ↑ Manahan, Kevin (April 16, 2015). "ESPN disciplines snotty Mount Holly native Britt McHenry for obnoxious rant at attendant". NJ.com . Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  9. ↑ "All-time letterwinners". Stetson Women's Soccer 2009. Stetson University. September 24, 2009. p. 25. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ "#29 Brittany McHenry". Stetson University. Archived from the original on January 16, 2005. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ McHenry, Brittany (May 27, 2008). "Remember the troops, Army vet says, but get out of this war". Medill Reports. Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  12. ↑ @BrittMcHenry (February 24, 2020). "MRI tomorrow for neck and brain. Never had one before, pretty nervous" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 25, 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ @BrittMcHnenry (February 25, 2020). "I had good & bad news today. Overwhelmed by the support by friends & strangers alike. With the best surgeons and doctors. Just another thing to take on . Please I can't stress enough, make your check-ups. Get an MRI early. It could have saved me" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ @BrittMcHenry (February 27, 2020). "I was trying to keep this relatively private. But as usual, things are being said without my consent. I have a brain tumor. I'm with an amazing medical team and surgery is imminent. Thank you for continued support and understanding at this time" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 27, 2020 – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ @BrittMcHenry (March 4, 2020). "I have brain surgery today. I'll be out recovering but had to say THANK YOU to former bosses, colleagues & friends from ESPN. Class act people. To @fox5dc, Fox News colleagues & @FDRLST for support. To EVERYONE reading this. Your kindness & words provided strength. #Fight pic.twitter.com/v5D7TRRrm8" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 4, 2020 – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ "Satellite Beach Sportscaster Shines In Nation's Capital". Space Coast Daily. September 16, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  17. ↑ Steinberg, Dan (March 12, 2014). "Britt McHenry on going to ESPN, but staying in D.C." The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Britt McHenry". ESPN MediaZone. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  19. ↑ Bonesteel, Matt; Boren, Cindy (May 1, 2017). "ESPN's massive round of layoffs hit familiar faces, including Marc Stein, Andrew Brandt and Adam Caplan". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  20. ↑ "ESPN's former host Britt McHenry implies she was laid off over conservative views". Fox News. June 27, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  21. ↑ Sforza, Lauren (September 9, 2026). "Ex-ESPN reporter to join Trump administration in new role: 'Beyond excited'". NJ.com . Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  22. ↑ Rosvoglou, Chris (September 9, 2026). "Former ESPN Star Britt McHenry Lands State Department Role". The Spun . Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  23. ↑ Ali, Yashar (July 11, 2019). "Fox News Contributor Tyrus Sent Lewd Texts To Colleague: 'Pull Your Boobs Out'". HuffPost . Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  24. ↑ Darcy, Oliver (December 10, 2019). "Fox Nation host Britt McHenry files sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News". CNN . Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  25. ↑ Ellefson, Lindsey (January 21, 2021). "Fox Nation's Britt McHenry Lost the Phone Linked to Her Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Claims". TheWrap . Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  26. ↑ Falzone, Diana; Baragona, Justin (July 19, 2021). "Britt McHenry Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit With Fox News". The Daily Beast. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  27. ↑ Raissman, Bob (April 18, 2015). "Gender bender at ESPN? If Britt (Brat) McHenry was a man, she'd be out of a job". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  28. ↑ McHenry, Britt [@BrittMcHenry] (April 16, 2015). "In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and (cont)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2026– via Twitter.
  29. ↑ Mandell, Nina (April 16, 2015). "ESPN suspends Britt McHenry: 'Emotions [got] the best of me'". For The Win . Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  30. ↑ Yates, Clinton; Larimer, Sarah (April 17, 2015). "Towing company releases statement following Britt McHenry suspension". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  31. ↑ Parker, Ryan (April 17, 2015). "Tow company forgives Britt McHenry for rant, others out for blood". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  32. ↑ Freed, Benjamin (April 17, 2015). "Arlington Towing Company in Britt McHenry Video Has a Long History of Complaints". Washingtonian . Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  33. ↑ Wilkens, Kathryn (October 22, 2026). "WATCH: Ex-ESPN Reporter, Trump Staffer Throws Drink at Fan After Angry Encounter". Mediaite . Retrieved October 22, 2026.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.