ESPN Apologizes for Twin Towers Clip Used During Knicks-Heat Game

It clearly depicted the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty.

ESPN has apologized for using old B-roll of the Twin Towers during an NBA playoff game Sunday.

It’s common practice for networks to use stock footage of major cities as establishing shots during sporting events. But during the ESPN on ABC broadcast of Game 1 of the Knicks‘ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Heat, the network used a clip that included the World Trade Center. 

“We mistakenly used an old stock image and we apologize,” senior director of communications Ben Cafardo told Awful Announcing.

With New York leading Miami 55–50 at the break, the network went to commercial after promoting Game 7 between the Warriors and Kings. As it did so, it showed footage of the Statue of Liberty and the Twin Towers in the background.

Pay attention at the end. How old is this footage ABC is using?! Wtf is goin on here?! pic.twitter.com/254YhBzE1R

— Khaled (@khaled74) April 30, 2023