After IMDB, ESPN Latest To remove User Comments

"Fans currently have more touchpoints than ever to voice their comments. We value their opinions, and feel that we are better able to serve them through our customer care team and our social platforms. In fact, we have and are continuing to create content for social that embraces these conversations and interacts with fans."
.
If you're going to, then do so, don't lie.

"... Which is why we're removing one avenue for our fans to make their voices heard and shuttling them off to some other platform where they'll be someone else's problem and we no longer have to listen to them."

It's not the removal of comment sections that's insulting, it's the blatant lies about why they're doing it. If a company feels that a comment section is too much hassle then fine, admit that and remove it. Don't lie about how much you value the content you just eliminated, as that makes it clear that you do not in fact value the opinions and/or comments of those formerly using your platform, and in fact consider them all idiots who can't tell when they're being lied to.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/8w5o70/did_espn_get_rid_of_their_comment_section/