Dianna Russini, Mike Vrabel photo scandal addressed in Athletic all-hands meeting after reporter’s resignation

Executive editor Steven Ginsberg held an all-hands general meeting on Wednesday following Russini’s April 14 resignation from the outlet, according to Front Office Sports.

Sources told Front Office Sports that Ginsberg read a prepared statement lasting roughly 10 minutes and acknowledged that communication between the Athletic and its staff members could have been clearer as the Russini-Vrabel scandal unfolded.

The Athletic reportedly addressed Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel’s scandal (pictured here together in Arizona on March 28) with staff members for the first time on Wednesday. © Page Six

Executive editor Steven Ginsberg held the all-hands general meeting following Russini’s April 14 resignation from the sports outlet. © Page SIx

Ginsberg also reportedly said that the investigation into Russini’s conduct, which is being led byeditorial director for standards and editorial qualityMike Semel, remains ongoing and will be lengthy.

Although the Athletic executive editor was said not to have taken questions during the company-wide meeting, he reportedly told staffers that he would be available for direct contact.

A rep for the Athletic did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

Page Six published bombshell photos of the former Athletic reporter and New England Patriots head coach on April 7.

Ginsberg reportedly said that the investigation into Russini’s conduct remains ongoing. © Page SIx

Page Six published bombshell photos of Russini and Vrabel (as seen here) on April 7. © Page SIx

The pics showed Russini, 43, and Vrabel, 50, holding hands and hugging at the exclusive Ambiente hotel in Sedona on March 28.

The pair, who are both married to different people, later downplayed the situation after the snaps went viral.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” the NFL coach and dad of two told Page Six in a statement.

“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini told us. “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

The pair (pictured here together in January 2020) initially downplayed the photos of them hugging and holding hands at the Arizona resort. Dianna Russini/Instagram

The Athletic sidelined Russini (seen here interviewing Vrabel in December 2019) and launched an investigation into her conduct. Dianna Russini/Instagram

Ginsberg, meanwhile, said that the photos of Russini and Vrabel were “misleading” and lacked “essential context.”

“These were public interactions in front of many people,” he added. “Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at the Athletic.”

However, it was later revealed that the Athletic sidelined Russini and launched an investigation into her conduct. She resigned from the outlet on April 14.

“Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30,” she wrote in her resignation letter.

“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,” Russini added.

Russini (pictured here in November 2019) resigned from the Athletic on April 14. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Vrabel (as seen here) addressed the photo scandal during a press conference with reporters ahead of the NFL Draft last week. AP

Ginsberg subsequently confirmed Russini’s departure from the outlet in a memo to staff.

“I’m writing to let you know that Dianna Russini has submitted her resignation from the Athletic, effective immediately,” hewrote.

“As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation,” the executive editor added. “While our investigation into Dianna’s conduct was ongoing, she chose to resign.”

As for Vrabel, he addressed the bombshell photo scandal for the first time during a press conference with reporters ahead of this year’s NFL Draft last week.

He thanked the reporters for their “patience” amid his “personal and private matter” and acknowledged that he could have addressed the media “sooner.”

The pair’s scandal took another turn when Page Six obtained new photos of Vrabel and Russini (as pictured here) getting close inside a New York City bar in 2020. © Page Six

Vrabel appeared to kiss Russini in the March 2020 photos. © Page Six

“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about — my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” Vrabel said. “Those have been positive and productive.”

The NFL head coach then announced that he would “seek counseling” beginning this past weekend, and missed Day 3 of the draft on Saturday to do so.

But the scandal took another turn last Thursday when Page Six obtained new photos of Vrabel and Russini getting close and kissing inside a New York City bar in March 2020.