Report: ESPN suspends Wojnarowski for 2 weeks over 'F--- you' email

Warning: Story contains coarse language.

ESPN suspended basketball reporter Adrian Wojnarowski for two weeks without pay on Saturday after the veteran journalist responded to an email from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) with profanity, sources told the New York Post's Andrew Marchand.

However, it's unclear when Wojnarowski's suspension began.

Upon receiving a press release from Hawley entitled "Senator Hawley Blasts NBA for Kowtowing to Beijing & Refusing to Support U.S. Military and Law Enforcement" on Friday, Wojnarowski responded: "F--- you." Hawley posted a screenshot of the private email exchange on Twitter.

Wojnarowski issued a public apology to Hawley following the incident.

"I was disrespectful and I made a regrettable mistake," the 51-year-old said in a statement. "I'm sorry for the way I handled myself and I am reaching out immediately to Senator Hawley to apologize directly.

"I also need to apologize to my ESPN colleagues because I know my actions were unacceptable and should not reflect on them."

In its own statement, the ESPN PR Twitter account called the action "completely unacceptable, adding that the matter would be dealt with internally."

As news of the reporter's suspension broke, many within the online basketball community - including some active NBA players - tweeted "#FreeWoj" in support of Wojnarowski.