All hell must have broken loose for Dianna Russini after pictures of her with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel from a luxurious hotel in Arizona went viral online.
The two were spotted in their swimwear by the pool, in the hot tub and even hugging and holding hands in some of the pictures.
ESPN analyst Ben Strauss shared how things went down for Russini in an article published Friday..
Strauss claimed that Russini was told by the New York Post that the story by Page Six, which included the pictures with Vrabel, was going to be released soon. She defended the incident by reportedly saying they were in Arizona for the NFL league meetings. Strauss wrote:
“The photos, though, threatened to become a public relations disaster. They were taken at a luxury resort away from the league meetings and appeared to show Russini embracing and holding hands with the Patriots coach.
“Later that Sunday, having learned the nature of the photos, she was on the phone with a crisis communications expert strategizing how to respond to the story, according to a person with knowledge of the call.”
Strauss added:
Both Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel have been under fire for their interaction in Arizona, given they are both married to other people and have two kids each.
However, while NFL decided to not review Vrabel’s conduct amid the controversy, Russini has gotten the uglier end of the situation as she handed in her resignation after The Athletic began an internal investigation on her conduct.
In her official letter to the organization, she wrote how many commentators in various media have involved themselves in the self feeding speculation about Vrabel and Russini’s relationship:
“I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30.
“I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Both Vrabel and Russini shared their side of the story and called it an innocent interaction while claiming that there were more people hanging out together that day in Arizona.
Also Read:
4 Interesting Facts About Dianna Russini’s Husband Kevin Goldschmidt
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