Sage Steele, a longtime anchor for ESPN's SportsCenter, has announced her departure from the network following a settlement of a lawsuit she filed against the company. Steele had alleged that ESPN retaliated against her for comments she made in a podcast interview regarding the Covid vaccine and other political and social issues. In the podcast, Steele referred to the company's vaccine mandate as "sick" and made controversial comments about former President Barack Obama's race.
Steele's lawsuit claimed that her contract and free speech rights were violated when she was "sidelined" by ESPN after the podcast appearance. ESPN has stated that they have mutually agreed to part ways with Steele and thanked her for her contributions over the years.
During the podcast, Steele also suggested that women who wear provocative clothes in the workplace bear responsibility for any sexism they may experience. Following the controversy and media coverage of her comments, Steele publicly apologized, acknowledging the impact of her remarks and the need for constructive and thoughtful communication during a challenging time.
In her lawsuit, Steele asserted that she was protected by the First Amendment and argued that she did nothing wrong since she was interviewed on the podcast as a private citizen on her day off, rather than as an ESPN employee. The settlement of the lawsuit has allowed Steele to exercise her first amendment rights more freely, according to her statement on social media.
ESPN has not provided further details about the settlement, but has expressed gratitude for Steele's contributions. The departure of Steele, a prominent and longtime anchor, marks a significant change for the network. The controversy surrounding her comments and the subsequent legal dispute highlight the challenges faced by media organizations in navigating the boundaries of free speech and employee conduct in the era of social media and heightened public scrutiny.