EXCLUSIVE: Cari Champion Hopes To See A Woman Land A $100 Million Media Deal & ‘Say Whatever She Wants Unapologetically’

Jasmine Brand, Cari Champion

EXCLUSIVE: Cari Champion Hopes To See A Woman Land A $100 Million Media Deal & ‘Say Whatever She Wants Unapologetically’

Veteran sports journalist and former ESPN host Cari Champion wants to see women receive the same massive paydays — and freedom to speak their minds — that some of the biggest men in media have secured.

During an exclusive interview with theJasmineBrand founder Jasmine Brand, Champion opened up about what she believes is still missing for women in the industry. “I hope in my lifetime, there’s a woman who gets a $100 million contract and can say whatever she wants to unapologetically,” she said. Champion stressed that she wants to see a woman rewarded for her voice and point of view, “not [with a] $100 million contract because she’s pretty or because she’s flirted with the right people.”

The conversation also touched on whether women will ever receive the type of freedom and corporate backing afforded to outspoken male media personalities like Stephen A. Smith. “Will a network say, ‘You know what? I like what you’re saying. I like that you think so-and-so is silly. I like that you want to talk about politics. I like that you want to get into this world. I’m going to give you $100 million’?” Champion asked. “I would love that.”

Champion also pointed to what she sees as a similar disparity in podcasting, particularly for Black women. “Remember the podcast list of the highest-paid podcasters and not one single Black woman was on that list?” she said. “And I was like, Michelle Obama’s not on that list.”

“We do have the freedom. We do have the right. Our First Amendment is very much exercised every single day,” Champion continued. “But do we have a corporation backing us saying, ‘Yes, I believe that Jemele Hill, you deserve $100 million’?” Ultimately, she said she hopes to see a woman with a widely respected opinion receive both the major platform and financial backing to speak unapologetically.