Grantland is dead.
ESPN PR put out a release Friday afternoon stating that "Effective immediately we are suspending the publication of Grantland."
The sports/pop culture website's future was in flux following the departure of its founder and former editor-in-chief Bill Simmons and it appears the Worldwide Leader in Sports decided it was no longer worth the hassle.
Grantland writers, editors, and alums—including Simmons—reacted to the news on Twitter.
I loved everyone I worked with at G and loved what we built. Watching good/kind/talented people get treated so callously = simply appalling.
/turns phone off
Got to work with warm, smart, wildly talented people who believed in me for five years. I’ve been the luckiest writer on earth.
well then
angry fists, proud tears.
Well that's the first time I've ever found out I was laid off via Twitter
Monday would've been my one-year anniversary. Really wanted that Disney pin.
I love you all very much.
I want to thank @billsimmons for creating this thing and allowing me to be part of it. I was so proud to work with so many amazing writers.
Best gig I ever had.
Here's ESPN's statement:
Effective immediately we are suspending the publication of Grantland. After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise.
