FOX Sports suspends analyst Kenny Florian for plagiarism
A tumultuous week that saw FOX Sports analyst Kenny Florian accused of plagiarism has ended with his suspension.
Via @FOXSportsPR pic.twitter.com/CglDeRLAfe
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) January 16, 2016
Florian included word-for-word passages from a video created by boxing analyst Lee Wylie in a UFC Fight Night 81 preview article for FOXSports.com. The article in question has since been removed.
There are bound to be some similarities when it comes to fight analysis, but this is outrageous.
— Lee John Wylie (@LeeWylie1) January 15, 2016
Wylie addressed the matter on social media, which created a massive backlash against Florian that prompted the former fighter to apologize on Twitter. He described the mistake as an "oversight" and acknowledged that he used perspectives "originally articulated by Lee Wylie" to compare Dominick Cruz to famed boxer Willie Pep.
After the initial furor, Wylie responded to Florian with a forgiving message.
Show me someone who hasn't made a mistake, and I'll show you a liar. It's not the end of the world. https://t.co/q1tItgwUaI
— Lee John Wylie (@LeeWylie1) January 15, 2016
- With h/t to MMAjunkie.com