Apr 30, 2010; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb (4) shares a laugh with local sports reporter Howard Eskin at the end of morning practice during mini-camp at the Philadelphia Eagles NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Matt Breen reports ($) that Howard Eskin's "abrupt departure last month from 94.1 WIP came after he shouted at a female employee of the radio station."
Possibly due to legal concerns, Breen's article is careful not to state that Eskin and WIP split ways because of the incident with the employee, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions. Eskin, 73, departed the station "days" after the shouting incident.
The incident reportedly occurred at the South Philadelphia location of Chickie's and Pete's restaurant, during a remote broadcast of a WIP show Eskin hosted with the Eagles' Brandon Graham.
On Pattison covered the initial news of Eskin's departure here, after Eskin posted the following to social media:
After 38 years I am moving on from Sportsradio WIP where I launched the station’s sports talk franchise in 1986. I leave the station with great affection for the listeners who have made the work I do so fulfilling during my time there. I’m looking forward to what comes next… pic.twitter.com/ZF6Wl9gO8P
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) December 20, 2024
Breen's report notes that, on the date of Eskin's announcement (December 20), Eskin was "spotted at the NovaCare Complex but was denied access to the building."
In July, Eskin was banned from Citizens Bank Park for the remainder of the 2024 Phillies season after making an unwanted advance on a female Aramark employee.
UPDATE JAN. 3: The Inquirer's Jeff McLane followed up on Friday, Jan. 3, saying Eskin forcibly grabbed the employee:
Advancing our story on Howard Eskin:
The former WIP host forcibly grabbed female Audacy employee during altercation, sources told The Inquirer.
More here: https://t.co/9rJzbvYTwX
UPDATE JAN. 4: Eskin issued a statement pushing back on the report Saturday on X:
"I had hoped to avoid commenting on my departure from WIP but the vicious smear campaign being waged against me by a small group of employees at the station forces me to defend myself. There was absolutely no “physical altercation” between me and a female employee at the station. I did not “forcibly grab” anyone. The employee interrupted me during an important conversation with Brandon Graham and I raised my voice irritated at the interruption. She stormed away and I followed her and tapped her arm to get her attention to apologize and explain why I was upset. I did not grab her. I apologized three times. She wouldn’t accept my apology or hear me out. The amount of piling on since has been disappointing to say the least. I am only commenting because in all the years of a very public life I have never put a hand on anyone. I can’t tolerate these lies. As they say, don’t believe everything you read in the paper or on social media."
I had hoped to avoid commenting on my departure from WIP but the vicious smear campaign being waged against me by a small group of employees at the station forces me to defend myself. There was absolutely no “physical altercation” between me and a female employee at the station.… pic.twitter.com/k2WgOdX05I
