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Steele—a Carmel High School and Indiana University graduate who covered sports for WISH-TV Channel 8 in Indianapolis early in her career—filed the lawsuit against the network and its parent company last year, alleging that she lost assignments after she made critical comments about the company’s coronavirus vaccine policies and Barack Obama’s racial identity.
“Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely,” Steele wrote on Twitter, now known as X. “I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!”
In a statement, ESPN said: “ESPN and Sage Steele have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank her for her many contributions over the years.”
Steele has been a prominent host and on-air presence at ESPN since 2007. She hosted SportsCenter and golf, among other assignments.
In the fall of 2021, Steele appeared on the show of former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler and called Disney’s vaccine mandate “sick” and “scary.” She also contrasted her own racial identity, which she said was biracial, with former president Barack Obama identifying as Black.
“I think that’s fascinating considering his Black dad was nowhere to be found but his White mom and grandma raised him,” she said. “But, hey, you do you. I’m going to do me.”
She alleged that ESPN disciplined her for those comments, which violated her right to free speech, and argued the company selectively enforced guidelines on political and social commentary. Connecticut, where ESPN is based, has a quirk in its first amendment law that protects speech at private companies, which legal observers noted helped Steele’s case.
ESPN, in court filings, said Steele could not demonstrate she was punished because her pay was never docked. ESPN also suggested that it is not legally responsible for how co-workers and others responded to Steele’s comments and that the company has its own right to expression that includes who it puts on the air.
Steele, 50, continued to appear on ESPN while the case was litigated. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
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A great on-air personality. Stupid on-air comments.
It is–or at least it WAS–unwise to use a high-profile newsmedia platform as a political soapbox, if it’s politically neutral by nature. And it nearly always is, or at least was. Broadcast sports managed to avoid politicization quite effectively for six decades, because most people in positions of leadership at places like ESPN new that it was terrible for business, just as they knew this at NFL, MLB, NBA, etc.
But this is 2023.
If Steele’s “stupid on-air comments” had carried the weight of the favored political party at ESPN, it wouldn’t have caused a ripple and she would never faced any repercussions whatsoever, even if the ones she did face were subtle–a no-doubt deliberate gesture so the corporation could try to evade culpability while punishing her. Didn’t work. Good for Steele, who can take the money and run….probably land a position at Daily Wire.
Politicization is openly embraced in 2023, as long as it aligns with the establishment.
Oh Lauren, bless your heart.
ESPN isn’t the place for political commentary. That’s bene their mantra for 30 years. And, her comments were especially offensive.
She has a bright future at Newsmax or OPN. Sad…because she was one of their best sports anchors.
Lauren you are right – Rick is wrong – as usual…
You hit the nail on the head Lauren.
Jemele Hill might disagree, Lauren …
It’s simple – Steele was getting a big check from ESPN to be a public spokesman of the company. As part of that, you’re giving up the right to say any fool thing that crosses your mind. If this wasn’t covered in her classes at IU, I’d be amazed.
Reminder, there is no First Amendment right to a lack of consequences for what you say. That’s seemingly what most of you “free speech absolutists” are after anyway.
If I’m wrong, quickly name any other ESPN host who regularly espouses personal political views.
The Obama take was just flat-out wrong, and mean.
It’s not that I disagree with her views—it’s just not the right place to air them. ESPN owns their channel. They have a right to reasonable on-air rules.
ESPN doesn’t even have to be reasonable. They own it, they can run it however they want.
Sage can go work for The Daily Wire and on day 1 and walk in and say, gotta be honest folks, Trump’s a racist person and you should vote for Ron DeSantis. If the Daily Wire wanted to fire her for that, well, they can do so barring her negotiating some “I can say what I want” clause in a contract.
Just like how a certain “genius” decided he wanted to run Twitter a different way … his company, he can run it how he wants. And people who choose to check out can choose to do so… it’s called the free market. Used to be espoused by Republicans.
Joe…
You are entirely welcome to cite Jemele Hill as a credible foil to my assertion. Like you, she sympathizes heavily with the left.
She’s just even further left.
As I’ve told you many times, the establishment–the Swamp, the Deep State (whatever you want to call it)–is a center-left allegiance (neo-libs and neo-cons). Stray too far into outright Marxism and rock the corporate boat…goodbye. (That’s Jemele Hill for you.)
Stray too far into populism, get branded “far right” (even though populism’s stance on globalist wars and corporate power is more akin to the far left)…goodbye. (Sage Steele)
And yes, a private company always has a right to run the way it wishes. There were no doubt T&C clauses that both Steele and Hill signed many moons ago. Whether or not they were in violation of those clauses is up for the impartial arbitration. I don’t remember (don’t care) what happened to Jemele Hill. But Steele settled, indicating that ESPN acknowledged fault in at least part of her charges, or at least didn’t want to challenge the litigation in a high-profile proceeding, so they at least paid her out.
Perhaps ESPN will modify its contracts to reign in commentators who get political–but considering that their commentators utter center-left truisms on a daily basis as though they are doctrine, I don’t think the average person in front the camera at ESPN/Disney has anything to worry about. After all, Rachel Zegler has some really awful takes on the “Snow White” legend for which she is starring in the live action “remake” (reinvention) and, while she’s helping to kill the movie’s box office prospects through her dislikability, there’s no sign that she’s getting slapped on the wrist by Disney for what she’s saying. Heck, Disney might even be feeding Zegler the script.
There’s the Lauren I’ve come to know. Conspiracy theories, accusing me of being a leftist, and blaming everything on the nebulous “Establishment”.
Here’s the reality – you get fired from sports TV if you say something stupid. Be that Jimmy the Greek or Jemele Hill or Thom Brennaman or Sage Steele, you rock the boat, you’re out of there.
The longer you are there, the more you’re a target given your ever-increasing salary.
If you didn’t figure that out over a 15 year career, you either aren’t that smart or maybe you just had a very inflated view of yourself and how much those rules would apply to you.
If you want to collect the big checks from a big company, you do it by their rules. Their rules might not make sense. (Ask Kevin Brown of the Orioles.) But their game, their rules. If you don’t like it, quit.
Her opinion and possibly accurate
Prior to this event I was totally neutral on Lauren since I watch very little woke ESPN. With her level head and bravery, I am now a big fan of Lauren. I wish her the best and will seek to support her at her next gig. Blessings Lauren.
Nothing speaks to the informed nature of today’s conservative voter like the Larry’s of the world commenting on Sage Steele …
That’s great.
…
Who the hell is Lauren?
Sage is great, ESPN is very political and woke. Obama is biracial, so is the current VP.
Your medical or scientific pedigree to make such an outrageous statement is….what?
What, to state that Obama is biracial is “outrageous” and requires a scientific pedigree? That’s weird. Obama has admitted it himself. There’s no question of his matrimony.
Correction: “maternity”
I’ve known Sage since I shadowed her during her time at WISH-TV years ago. She’s was incredibly gracious and thoughtful. Like all of us, she’s entitled to her opinions and views and, like all of us, we can face consequences from our employers when we share our thoughts and views so outwardly and publicly. Sage probably should have been more thoughtful before she spoke; unfortunately for Sage, she’s falling in line with many other media folk who feel they need to weigh in on all polarizing issues and focusing on things that divide us as a society. It’d be great for others in our society with a voice heard by many to think about what ways we can unite people and bring joy to the public.