Veteran <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/espns-samantha-ponder-bucks-network-joins-those-slamming-men-in-womens-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN</a> anchor Sage Steele announced Tuesday that she would be leaving the sports network to exercise her First Amendment rights.
Steele sued ESPN and parent company Disney last year, alleging the network retaliated against her for making negative comments about COVID vaccine mandates and former President Barack Obama. The anchor was suspended after making the remarks in September 2021 before she apologized a few weeks later.
“Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment (sic) rights more freely,” Steele <a href="https://twitter.com/sagesteele/status/1691437577797337088">wrote</a> on X. “I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!”
In an appearance on former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler’s podcast in 2021, Steele <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/espn-anchor-sage-steele-sues-alleging-retaliation-over-vaccine-mandate-obama-race-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> ESPN’s requirement for employees to get vaccinated against COVID.
“I didn’t want to do it,” she told Cutler. “But I work for a company that mandates it and I had until September 30 to get it done or I’m out.”
“I respect everyone’s decision, I really do, but to mandate it is, um, sick,” Steele continued. “And it’s scary to me in many ways. But I have a job, a job that I love, and frankly, a job that I need, but again, I love it. I’m not surprised it got to this point, especially with Disney, a global company … but it was actually emotional.”
During the podcast, Steele also questioned Obama’s identification as black, “considering his black dad was nowhere to be found but his white mom and grandma raised him.”
Steele said her apology for the comments a few weeks later came under pressure from ESPN. She sued in April 2022, and Disney initially offered Steele a $500,000 settlement, but her attorney slammed the offer in June, The New York Post reported. 
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
“Disney and ESPN clearly admit their liability by offering to pay Sage Steele more than half a million dollars for taking away her right to free speech. The offer misses the point. Disney cannot purchase their employee’s constitutional rights no matter how powerful they think they are,” attorney Bryan Freedman <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/06/26/sage-steeles-lawyer-rebukes-disney-settlement-offer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. 
The 50-year-old sports anchor began working for ESPN in 2007 and hosted the evening broadcast of “SportsCenter.” In 2013, Steele began hosting ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” where she was the face of the show until 2017. 
Disclosure: The Daily Wire has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/introducing-dw-kids">announced plans</a> for kids entertainment content.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Longtime ESPN Anchor Who Criticized COVID Mandates Leaving Network To ‘Exercise First Amendment Rights’

CONTINUE READING

Graham Platner Caught By Wife Exchanging Raunchy Texts With Women

Trump Hints At New Programming For Freedom 250 Concert After ‘Third Rate’ Artists Drop Out

MLB Exec Fired After He Claimed To Exclude Christian Player From Team’s Social Media

Fidel Castro’s Daughter Has Very Interesting Answer When Asked If Justin Trudeau Is Her Half Brother

Taxpayer-Funded Exorcisms? The Medicaid Debate Just Got Wild

WATCH: Footage Shows Engine Fly Off UPS Plane Before Crash Killed 15

Sports

Celebrities

COVID

Disney

ESPN

Free Speech

U.S.

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— Sports —

Longtime ESPN Anchor Who Criticized COVID Mandates Leaving Network To ‘Exercise First Amendment Rights’