Sports media figure Dianna Russini debuted a new podcast with offshore gambling company BetUS on Wednesday, but the launch did not address the controversy that led to her recent professional fallout.
On the show, called the “Russin Report,” Russini made light of internet memes about the situation rather than discussing its substance. “I’ve seen all the memes and comments … and some of you guys are really funny,” she said. She referenced a viral AI-generated video depicting her playing the saxophone alongside former NFL coach Mike Vrabel, joking that the saxophone would indeed be her instrument of choice. She also joked that an AI image had made her look like an “L.A. 10.”
Russini did not revisit comments she made earlier in the week in an interview with People, in which she described herself as the victim of “heartbreaking lies” and said she hoped to be an inspiration to other women. She did not specify which claims about her she considered false.
Russini’s former employer, The Athletic, found her in violation of company standards over an undisclosed relationship with Vrabel, a coach she had covered and used as a source. Photographs of the two together date back seven years.
The debut episode drew heavy traffic, to the point that BetUS TV, the site hosting the show, reportedly crashed. Whether that level of interest continues into future episodes remains to be seen, given that the podcast did not engage directly with the scandal that generated much of the initial attention.
Russini has said she plans to return to an as-yet-unnamed sports media position next week.
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