ESPN has suspended reporter Britt McHenry for one week after the above video was released showing her verbally attacking a tow truck company cashier for her weight, education level and skill set.
McHenry, who was the editor-in-chief of Satellite High School’s student newspaper and president of the National Honor Society, was a four-year letterman for the late Fidgi Haig with the Scorpions.
After graduating in 2004, McHenry enrolled at Stetson University where she was a scholarship soccer player. After playing one season of collegiate soccer, McHenry decided to focus on academics.
She went on to graduate magna cum laude from Stetson in three-and-a-half years and then was accepted into the prestigious Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in January 2008.
The video incident occurred after McHenry went to retrieve her car that was towed by Advanced Towing in Arlington, Virginia while eating at a Chinese restaurant.
Gina Michelle, the towing company cashier, informed McHenry that she was being video recorded during the incident and said the following:
Gina Michelle
“I have the entire transaction on video tape of Brittany McHenry. I have her insulting the dispatcher telling her to lose weight and belittling her for doing her job. As a woman in the public eye and posting on her Facebook page about negative words hurting others, is this appropriate? She parked her car and came back two hours after the establishment closed (meaning she was not a customer the whole time) and insulted another woman’s weight. Is THIS ok?
“And when I post the video you’ll say I deserved to be called fat. Bottom line is she got towed. She should not have left her car unattended in a private lot to patronize another bar. Be angry or upset, you don’t insult someone’s looks because you think you’re above them.”
“In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things. As frustrated as I was, I should always choose to be respectful and take the high road. I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake.”
Local residents have alleged that Advanced Towing has questionable business practices. Last year arlnow.com reported that food delivery vehicles were being towed off private property by Advanced.
