Business

MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle netted Steph Curry interview as ‘thank you’ for helping Under Armour boss: lawsuit

Cable TV anchor Stephanie Ruhle landed an interview with NBA star and Under Armour pitchman Steph Curry less than a month after touting the athletic brand following a negative analyst report downgrading its stock, according to court records.

The MSNBC host was working for Bloomberg TV at the time when she scored the sit-down with the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter as a “thank you” from under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, according to new details from an ongoing shareholders lawsuit against the company.

Court documents from a deposition unsealed last week shed more light on the ties between Plank, the 51-year-old Maryland-based billionaire who founded Under Armour, and the former business journalist, who currently anchors “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle” on MSNBC.

Plank called Ruhle, 47, a “confidant” that he gave a cell phone and secure email address through which she could communicate with him at all hours of the day, according to court records. She also flew several times on a private jet with Plank, the complaint said.

Stephanie Ruhle, an MSNBC anchor who hosted a show on Bloomberg, interviewed Steph Curry for Bloomberg TV in Feb. 2016. Bloomberg

Another revelation from the deposition included Plank setting up the February 2016 interview between Ruhle and Curry, whose Curry Brand is part of a long-term partnership with the sports apparel giant.

In the 30-minute segment that aired on Bloomberg, Ruhle and Curry had a free-throw shooting contest, discussed the grueling NBA season and exchanged views about investing.

Ruhle — who worked at Bloomberg from 2011 until March 2016 before joining MSNBC later that year — also mentioned Curry’s relationship with Under Armour and the sales of his sneaker brand in China.

The interview came on the heels of Under Armour shares plummeting more than 8% on Jan. 11, 2016, after Morgan Stanley analysts issued a report the day before downgrading the stock to underweight due to sagging sales figures.

The two discussed Curry’s endorsement deal with Under Armour as well as his investment strategy. Bloomberg

Plank wrote an email to Diane Pelkey, who was then his top communications officer, stating that the Curry interview was “a great thank you for [Ruhle] being the only member of media to get [Under Armour’s] back when [the Morgan Stanley report] came out against us,” according to court documents.

He added that he hoped other media outlets would “take notice and show more love (even when the chips are down!),” according to emails cited in court documents.

On the day that the stock sank, Plank — who stepped down as CEO of Under Armour in 2019 but currently serves as executive chairman — had emailed Under Armour employees in a message with the subject line “Morgan [S]tanley,” according to court records.

Plank wanted to schedule a call with employees to discuss “a strategy to put [Under Armour’s] friends in media and other analysts to work to refute [the Morgan Stanley] report,” court documents state.

Curry’s partnership with Under Armour, which oversees his Curry Brand, has netted him tens of millions of dollars. Bloomberg

That same day, Plank emailed Ruhle a “fact sheet” which Under Armour wanted to “send out to ALL media to arm them for any discussion” of the Morgan Stanley report, according to the court filing.

“[P]lease let me know if you see anything missing from here,” Plank allegedly wrote in an email to Ruhle — as cited by court documents.

During Ruhle’s appearance on her Bloomberg show that afternoon, the anchor appeared to cast doubt on the Morgan Stanley report, saying that a member of the “Bloomberg Intelligence team” had “remain[ed] very bullish” about Under Armour, according to court documents.

The interview with Curry was Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank’s way of saying “thank you” to Ruhle, according to court papers. Getty Images

She told her audience that Under Armour was a “long-term buy” and that it was “very early to actually evaluate” the sales numbers, according to the filing.

Ruhle praised Under Armour for having made “huge strides” toward integrating technology into its products while noting that the company’s endorsement deals with superstar athletes such as Curry, NFL legend Tom Brady and skier Lindsey Vonn was a sign that “clearly, they pick winners.”

Plank’s relationship with Ruhle is the subject of a shareholder lawsuit against Under Armour. USA TODAY Sports

Shareholders sued Under Armour in 2017 in a federal court in Maryland, alleging the company inflated its stock artificially by misleading investors over poor sales figures.

Their bid to force Bloomberg to provide Ruhle’s emails was rejected by a federal judge in New York last Friday, according to the Journal.

Plank, who stepped down as Under Armour CEO in 2019, is seen far right with Curry and actor Jamie Foxx. Marion Curtis/Starpix/Shutterstock

“There is no suggestion whatever that Ruhle received any promise of that interview for her coverage and, more significantly, no evidence that Under Armour controlled Ruhle in her reporting on the Morgan Stanley Story,” wrote US Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein of the Southern District of New York.

A Bloomberg News spokesperson declined to comment when reached by The Post.

The Post has also sought comment from Under Armour and Ruhle’s current employer, Comcast-owned MSNBC.

Under Armour has vowed to fight the lawsuit.

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top