ESPN's Ryen Russillo Apologizes for 'Mistake' That Led to Arrest: 'I Deserved the Suspension' (Video)

ESPN didn’t go lightly on Ryen Russillo, and he’s not being any easier on himself.

The popular sportstalk personality and host of ESPN Radio’s “The Russillo Show” apologized (again) on Tuesday upon his return to the microphone. Russillo was suspended by ESPN after allegedly getting drunk and entering a stranger’s bedroom. He’s not passing the buck on this one.

“It’s all on me. There is no one else,” Russillo told his audience. “I could go through a timeline of events that — if this happens, this happens, maybe this whole big thing doesn’t happen — but then it’s gonna sound like I’m making excuses and that I don’t get it. And trust me, I get it.”

Also Read: ESPN's Ryen Russillo Suspended After Nude and Drunken Arrest

“I understand that this is a big mistake, because I’m a public figure, and I have my name on a show, and I work at a place like ESPN, and a place that I’m proud to come in to work every single day,” he continued. “And I’m not saying this because my bosses are listening, but I deserved the suspension.”

“I embarrassed you guys, I embarrassed myself, and I just — I feel so bad about the people here. As it works as an on-air person, where you are — you know, there are people here that love me, and there are people that are like, ‘Maybe, I’m not sure about that guy. I’m not sure that I get it,” Russillo went on. “And I think that all the people that have been arguing for me, and me feeling like the underdog, and finally getting my name, and all these things that have happened the last 12 years here, I don’t want those people in the room that have been fighting for me to give up on me or to feel like, you know — because I have let them down. So I’m sorry to them.”

Late last month, Jackson, Wyoming, police responded at approximately 3:30 a.m. to a report of a nude, intoxicated male refusing to leave a residence, according to the department. Police said the victims stated that an unknown man was in their home and directed officers to him.

Also Read: ESPN Host Ryen Russillo Arrested After Getting Drunk and Entering a Stranger's Bedroom, Police Say

Here’s more transcribed from Ryen’s thoughtful expression of regret:

I’m sorry to my family that’s been asked about this nonstop. And I’m sorry to my friends. Even though I make a ton of jokes about not having any friends, I’ve heard from so many of you guys after the fact. That meant a ton and that helped me, because I was super depressed, especially that first week.

When you are sitting there, thinking about your actions and making this kind of mistake, and you’re in a car by yourself driving through Idaho Falls and then into Montana in a rainstorm, and you’re like, “I can’t believe I did this. I can’t believe this happened.” And I’m sad, and then I’m angry, and I’m punching the steering wheel, and then you get a phone call and you feel a little bit better. And so, as I said, I joke about not having friends. Obviously, I have a lot. Maybe I should actually pick one of those next time I go on vacation.

The other part of this is understanding and reminding myself that I am a public figure, and that the rules are different. And if you want these jobs, and you want your name to resonate, and you want all the good things with it, you have to understand that you’re gonna pay a different price when you screw up. And I’ve definitely paid that price.

Also Read: ESPN President Blames 'Someone With a Personal Agenda' for Flap Over Robert Lee Replacement

Some of the headlines, it was tough, a little sensationalized. But at the same time, I’m the one that put myself in that situation, to go to sleep in another room and have all this happen. So again, I’m sorry to everybody, I understand that it’s serious.

Russillo later said he knows that he’ll have to “wear” this for years.

“If I say, ‘Flacco’s having a hard time finding his receivers,’ you’re gonna say, three years from now, ‘Just like you and hotel rooms,'” he astutely concluded.

Also Read: ESPN Shutters One of Its Channels to Cut Costs

Readers can watch Russillo’s on-air mea culpa here:

ESPN's Ryen Russillo is back to work this afternoon, and he took ownership of his arrest last week.

[ESPN News] pic.twitter.com/HHMBz8nF7C

— Funhouse (@BackAftaThis) September 5, 2017

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