ESPN reporter Allison Williams is leaving company over COVID vaccination mandate

ESPN reporter Allison Williams said she is leaving the sports channel after her decision not to get vaccinated. Williams, who covers college and basketball games, told followers in an Instagram video that ESPN and parent company, Walt Disney, denied her "request for accommodation," days before the company's COVID-19 vaccine mandate takes effect. 

"Effective next week, I will be separated from the company," said Williams, who has been with ESPN since 2011. 

"I'm morally and ethically not aligned by this," she added. "And I've had to really dig deep and analyze my values, my morals and ultimately, I need to put them first... Ultimately, I cannot put a paycheck over principle."