August 16th 2023.
Former ESPN anchor and sports journalist Sage Steele has officially cut ties with the network after filing a lawsuit against them in regards to her First Amendment rights.
Steele had been offered a hefty settlement of $500,000 from ESPN's parent company, Walt Disney Co., but she ultimately declined in order to take a stand for her rights. This decision came after she appeared on former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler's podcast and made remarks that were in opposition to the network's vaccination policy as well as questioning former President Barack Obama's lineage and rebuking the clothing choices of her female peers.
As a result of these comments, Steele was suspended for two days and claims she was forced to issue an apology in order to avoid termination. After this dispute, ESPN and Steele have now come to a mutual agreement to part ways.
In a statement, Steele expressed her gratitude for the past 16 years and expressed her eagerness to begin her next chapter. ESPN also released a statement that they were thankful for her contributions over the years.
Steele joins the likes of Jalen Rose, Mark Jackson, and Keyshawn Johnson, who have also been relieved of their roles at the network. During her nearly two decades at ESPN, Steele sat at the desk for some of the network's most popular shows, including Sportscenter and NBA Countdown. She was known for her conservative views and critical analysis of race relations in recent years.
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