John Skipper resigns as ESPN president, citing substance addiction

John Skipper.
(Image credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

ESPN President John Skipper resigned from the network Monday, citing a substance abuse problem. "I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem," Skipper said in a statement. "I come to this public disclosure with embarrassment, trepidation, and a feeling of having let others I care about down."

Skipper said the decision for him to resign was made in tandem with the company. In a separate statement, Bob Iger, the chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, the majority owner of ESPN, said: "I respect [Skipper's] candor and support his decision to focus on his health and his family."

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Kimberly Alters

Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.