- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Linda Cohn Claps Back at Keith Olbermann in Media Feud
The longtime ESPN colleagues trade barbs over Cohn's comments on Maple Leafs player Auston Matthews' White House visit.
Published on Feb. 28, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The ongoing feud between ESPN anchors Linda Cohn and Keith Olbermann escalated on Friday, with Cohn firing back at Olbermann's criticism of her comments about Maple Leafs player Auston Matthews' decision to visit the White House. Cohn called Olbermann "bitter and miserable" and said he needs to "get the help you need", while Olbermann dismissed Cohn as a "self-obsessed politically motivated clown".
Why it matters
The spat between the two longtime ESPN personalities highlights the increasingly polarized and contentious nature of political discourse, even in the world of sports media. It also raises questions about how public figures should navigate sensitive political topics without alienating parts of their audience.
The details
The feud began after Cohn criticized a Toronto Star opinion piece that argued Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews "failed in every respect" by visiting the White House to celebrate the U.S. men's hockey team's gold medal win. Cohn defended Matthews, saying "If this is how Leafs fans feel, If I'm Auston Matthews, I'd take control of my life and go where I'm wanted." Olbermann then attacked Cohn's comments, calling her a "self-obsessed politically motivated clown" whose "leanings are sacrosanct and everyone else's must be suppressed." Cohn fired back, saying Olbermann sounds "bitter and miserable" and needs to "get the help you need."
- The feud escalated on Friday, February 28, 2026.
The players
Linda Cohn
A longtime ESPN anchor who has been with the network since 1992.
Keith Olbermann
A former ESPN anchor who has had multiple stints with the network, most recently leaving in 2020.
Auston Matthews
The captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, who visited the White House with the majority of his teammates to celebrate the U.S. men's hockey team's gold medal win.
What they’re saying
“Amazing @KeithOlbermann that you describe me how the world actually describes you. What happened to you? Gaslighting and bullying a former colleague? Is that really your thing now? It's really sad and disappointing.”
— Linda Cohn, ESPN Anchor (X)
“Everyone knows you've been irrelevant since you left sports and decided to share your uninvited warped world views with the rest of us. You sound bitter and miserable. I hope you get the help you need.”
— Linda Cohn, ESPN Anchor (X)
“Hate to finally break it to you [Linda Cohn]. I'd say 'be better to you' but it's an impossibility. You're a self-obsessed politically motivated clown who thinks HER leanings are sacrosanct and everyone else's must be suppressed. We've indulged you all these years. That now ends.”
— Keith Olbermann (X)
The takeaway
This feud between two prominent ESPN personalities highlights the increasing politicization of sports media and the challenges public figures face in navigating sensitive political topics without alienating parts of their audience. It raises questions about how sports media should balance reporting on political issues while maintaining objectivity and avoiding divisiveness.
