ESPN is attempting to distancing itself from a controversial gaming company after several of its top on-air personalities promoted it on social media. According to Front Office Sports, sources tell the outlet that ESPN instructed Dan Orlovsky, Kendrick Perkins, Mina Kimes, and Laura Rutledge to end their marketing partnerships with Papaya Gaming, the company behind a popular solitaire app now facing a federal lawsuit.
Papaya has been accused of falsely advertising games of skill and allegedly using “tailored bots to control the outcomes of tournaments,” according to court documents cited in the case.
Mina Kimes, one of ESPN’s most visible NFL analysts, was the first to publicly sever ties over the weekend. In a candid apology on X, she called her involvement “a colossal f**k up.” Admitting she failed to properly vet the company before signing on. “Thought it was just typical marketing work, and I’m deeply embarrassed I didn’t vet it,” she wrote.
Within days, she and fellow ESPN personalities Orlovsky and Rutledge deleted their promotional posts tied to the campaign.
The promotion is tied to ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith being named a global ambassador for Papaya’s World Solitaire Championship. This follows Smith earlier this year being spotted playing the game during the NBA Finals.
Smith released a statement on the promotion during his Stephen A. Smith podcast Monday night.
“We’re aware of the recent legal developments involving Papaya and the broader skill/gaming space,” said Smith Monday night. “My team is currently evaluating the accuracy and merits of the claims made. I want to be very clear. I do not support nor condone any company engaging in fraudulent or unfair gaming practices. Thus, my team and I will evaluate the situation and ensure that we are not in favor of any fraudulent or unfair gaming practices at all.”
According to the report, the sponsorships reportedly blindsided ESPN executives, who were not given an opportunity to review or approve the deals before they went public. That lack of internal vetting, combined with Papaya’s growing legal troubles, created a situation the network wanted to resolve quickly.
Papaya has denied the lawsuit’s claims.
“Papaya looks forward to vigorously proving in trial that Skillz’ misleading accusations against the company are false and unjustified,” the company said in a statement.
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