Kansas City radio host Carrington Harrison has stated that he agrees with the reporting of OutKick, a sports media outlet, regarding Kansas City Chiefs player Josh Simmons, but simultaneously claims he does not respect the platform or its content.
Harrison, who hosts a show on 96.5 The Fan, a station associated with the Chiefs, expressed his views on social media and his radio program. He specifically criticized OutKick's coverage of Simmons, a Chiefs left tackle who has missed the current season due to a mysterious back injury. OutKick's reporting highlighted previous concerns about Simmons' character and maturity, citing ESPN and Sports Illustrated reports, and questioned the team's lack of transparency regarding his injury.
Despite acknowledging the accuracy of OutKick's reporting, Harrison suggested he would not seek information from the outlet. During an appearance on the "Mundo in the Morning" radio show, Harrison stated, "I don't fundamentally disagree with Bobby Burack [OutKick writer]. I would define someone who is a hater, who is someone who is incapable of giving credit when credit should be due." He later added, "The truth doesn't matter who says the truth. It's still the truth regardless of who says it."
When pressed by host Pete Mundo about his apparent contradiction, Harrison clarified that his issue was not with the accuracy of the reporting on Simmons, but rather with what he perceives as the platform's lack of credibility and its association with conservative commentator Clay Travis. Harrison described OutKick's audience as consisting of "insects, bots, trolls and racists," and stated he does not wish to engage with such a platform.
OutKick's writer, Bobby Burack, responded by asserting that he does not claim to be an investigative reporter but simply highlighted unusual circumstances surrounding Simmons' injury and the team's limited information, which he suggested local media, like Harrison, were hesitant to cover for fear of alienating the team's public relations department.
Harrison's remarks have raised questions about the willingness of sports media personalities to engage with perspectives that differ from their own, particularly when the reporting itself is acknowledged as accurate. He also appeared to suggest that listeners should disregard information from OutKick due to its perceived political leanings and association with conservative figures.
OutKick reached out to Steven Spector, the program director of 96.5 The Fan, for comment on Harrison's statements but did not receive a response by the time of publication. The outlet also sought further comment from Harrison.
OutKick maintains that political affiliation should not be a barrier to discussing sports and stands by its coverage of the Josh Simmons situation, deeming it a relevant story due to the player's status as the starting left tackle for the Chiefs and the unusual circumstances surrounding his absence from games.