ESPN Parts Ways With Paul Pierce After Celtics Legend Posted Inappropriate Instagram Live Video
BOSTON (CBS) -- Paul Pierce's run at ESPN is over.
The Celtics legend and future Hall of Famer has "parted ways" with the network, after he went live on Instagram over the weekend in which he was drinking and smoking with exotic dancers. The news was reported by Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Ryan Glasspiegel, and Richard Deitsch of The Athletic.
Shortly after the news broke, Pierce posted a video of himself laughing on Twitter, stating, "Big things coming soon stay tuned make sure u smile."
The 43-year-old Pierce was a trending topic on Twitter on Saturday, after clips and images from his Instagram live video spread throughout social media. Pierce seemed to acknowledge his sudden Twitter fame with a wink and a nod on Saturday, when he sent out a simple "Good morning" tweet.
All of the reports of his departure from ESPN noted that he and the network have "parted ways," opting to not use the term "fired."
Pierce -- who played 15 seasons with the Celtics from 1998-13, before spending time with the Nets, Wizards and Clippers at the end of his career -- joined ESPN as an analyst in 2017. He regularly appeared on "NBA Countdown" and "The Jump." Pierce's No. 34 was retired in the rafters at the TD Garden in Boston in 2018.
