In a year when Amazon’s Thursday Night Football finally felt like it belonged in the NFL broadcast lineup, Kaylee Hartung settled into a role that’s deceptively difficult: be present without overplaying it, informative without taking the spotlight. Her reward? A Sports Emmy nomination for Outstanding Personality/Sideline Reporter — her first in the category, and for many in the industry, one that’s been coming. But, the same moment landed a little differently for Charissa Thompson.

Thompson, a veteran broadcaster and one of Fox Sports’ most recognizable figures, shared a congratulatory message on Instagram, sharing the announcement. “Congrats to everyone that was nominated. Proud to be a part of such amazing shows and companies,” she wrote in her Instagram story. The message was positive and professional. But fans can’t help notice the lack of personal acknowledgement for herself in the nominations. It makes us think about how she feels about being left out this year.

Charissa had previously won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2016 for Outstanding Entertainment News Program as part of the team behind the show Extra. She shared this recognition with other producers and hosts, including Mario Lopez and Tracey Edmonds, during her time as co-host. For someone like Thompson, who has spent years building a career defined by charisma and expertise, this new moment can hit hard. It’s not just about missing out on an award. It’s about navigating an industry that swings its spotlight towards fresh faces like Hartung.

But is there more to this story? Some fans believe Thompson’s recent controversies explain her lack of recognition this time. Her admission last year about fabricating sideline reports had caused a major stir. It looks like the fallout from that hasn’t gone away just yet.

When words backfire – Charissa’s fabrication fallout

In November 2023, Charissa Thompson made headlines for all the wrong reasons. This is when she admitted during the Pardon My Take podcast that she had fabricated sideline reports during NFL games if coaches didn’t give her usable quotes. She explained that if coaches were uncooperative during halftime interviews, she would make up generic statements based on the gameplay observations. “I’ve said this before… but I’ll say it again – I would make up the report sometimes,” she confessed.

The backlash from this? It was swift and brutal. Fellow broadcasters slammed her comments as unethical and damaging to the credibility of sideline reporting. ESPN’s Molly McGrath called it “not normal or ethical,” while NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen labeled it “deplorable”. Critics have argued that Thompson’s actions undermine trust in an already challenging role dominated by women striving for respect in sports journalism. 

Thompson later clarified her comments on Instagram, saying she had chosen her words poorly and never attributed false quotes to players or coaches. “I have nothing but respect for sideline reporters and their tireless work,” she wrote. But despite her apology, the controversy left a lasting mark on her reputation. A mark that may now be influencing how industry insiders view her contributions. Meanwhile, Kaylee Hartung has kept her record squeaky clean. Hartung hasn’t been involved in any controversy, a factor that likely played into her nomination and growing popularity among audiences and peers alike. In an industry where trust and credibility are everything, Hartung’s triumph is a stark contrast against Thompson’s recent struggles.

Thomson isn’t the first broadcaster to face backlash over public missteps. ESPN’s Jemele Hill dealt with intense criticism over political tweets but managed to pivot into new opportunities outside traditional sports media. The difference? Hill maintained credibility within her audience despite controversy, while Thompson’s misstep hit at the heart of journalistic integrity. Surely a much harder blow to recover from.

So what’s next for Charissa Thompson? While Kaylee Hartung continues to shine with Amazon Prime Video, Charissa has decided to take her career in a new direction. One that’s quite literally out of this world. Thompson has announced via Instagram that she will be joining Blue Origin’s New Shepard Mission NS-31 as a part of its first all-female crew heading into space.”Let’s goooooooo! Thrilled to be joining @blueorigin for this historic launch!!!” she wrote, alongside a clip introducing the mission’s hosts.

The mission is set to launch on April 14, 2025. Joining Charissa are NASA aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights icon Amanda Nguyen, journalist Gayle King, pop sensation Katy Perry, producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sanchez, partner of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. It remains unclear if Thompson will return to sports broadcasting after this venture. But cue to fireworks, people, the girls are going to space!