Florian apologizes for plagiarism oversight, suspended by FOX
Kenny Florian: “To my fans and followers i’d like to apologize for an oversight on my part,” after several lines of his analysis were found to be identical to a vid.
Retired UFC middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, and featherweight Kenny Florian, who currently works as a FOX analyst and UFC color commentator, wrote an article for FOX Sports on Monday titled “Welcome to the future: Kenny Florian breaks down Dillashaw vs. Cruz.” However, the story is gone.
What now appears in its place is this:
(Editor’s Note: Language in this breakdown borrows from written material in a video of an in-depth look at the defensive boxing prowess of Willie Pep by TheFightCity.com boxing analyst Lee Wylie. The original version of this story did not contain this credit. We regret the oversight.)
The offending content has been removed from this URL.
It was removed after Englishman Lee Wylie learned that several lines of Florian’s analysis were identical to a video he had made in December about the extraordinary defensive skills of the great boxer Willie Pep. Wylie does excellent, highly astute video breakdowns of boxers.
Florian promptly apologized and explained.
Kenny Florian @kennyflorian
•The only person who should be upset & rightfully so is Kenny Florian @kennyflorian 17h17 hours ago
*RE: @LeeWylie1 work. To be more specific, it was several lines of his material, not a paragraph. That is all. Thank you.?@LeeWylie1 who I’ve explained the situation to. Will explain on @AnikFlorianPod Tues?
Ironically, Wylie’s videos make wide use of material with a copyright. And he appears okay with what happened.
Lee John Wylie @LeeWylie1
Show me someone who hasn’t made a mistake, and I’ll show you a liar. It’s not the end of the world.
Unfortunately, FOX Sports has announced that Florian is suspended, presumably pending a full review of the circumstances around the incident. Via Twitter.
It is vitally important that FOX Sports and FOXSports.com maintain credibility and trust with their readers, viewers and fans. FOX UFC on-air personality Kenny Florian is being suspended beginning immediately for a critical oversight in a story posted earlier this week on FOXSports.com. Florian has admitted and regrets his mistake and apologized for the error.
It is not clear if Florian is suspended from writing only, or from commentating as well. Hopefully the situation is resolved quickly, and Florian can get back to work promptly.
