On 23 August 2017, the hashtag #RobertLee trended on Twitter due to widely social posted rumors holding that an ESPN announcer named Robert Lee had been "fired" by the sports network because he shared a name with the prominent Confederate general, and his presence on television might therefore be "offen[sive]" to "idiots":
ESPN just fired sports caster because his name is Robert lee. And he is Asian and this is not a joke @FoxNews
— ?stacy trumpet ? (@tice_stacy) August 23, 2017
Everyone, this is Robert Lee. He was fired. For being Robert Lee.?? pic.twitter.com/YyeBaR5PQY
— Shaka the GIF Goat (@thegifgoat) August 23, 2017
ESPN is a failed network. NEVER watch biased and idiotic ESPN.
BOYCOTT!!!
Fired a broadcaster named Robert Lee because his name is..— James Green (@AZboer) August 23, 2017