Broadcaster Sage Steele has concluded her 16-year tenure at ESPN following a settlement of her lawsuit against the sports media company and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co. The lawsuit revolved around Steele’s public criticism of ESPN’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which led to her being sidelined from certain assignments and asked to issue a public apology.
Steele’s departure marks the end of a controversy that began in October 2021 when she was a guest on Jay Cutler’s podcast. Steele, who had complied with the vaccine mandate to maintain her employment, made comments critical of the policy, which she called “sick” and “scary to me in many ways.” In the same conversation, she also delved into the topic of racial identity, touching on former President Barack Obama’s choice to identify as Black rather than biracial on the Census.
Following her podcast appearance, ESPN took Steele off the air for ten days and withdrew her from high-profile assignments such as the New York City Marathon, the Rose Parade, and the annual ESPNW Summit. Steele’s lawsuit alleged that ESPN’s actions were a form of retaliation, designed to enforce silence and conformity with the company’s policy views.
ESPN’s stance was that Steele’s comments warranted a response, but they have denied that she was ever officially suspended. In the ensuing media storm, Steele was compelled by ESPN to issue an apology, but according to Steele’s lawsuit, the company did not adequately defend her against media backlash or address the defamatory remarks made by her colleagues, violating company policy.
Details of the settlement have not been disclosed, but in a social media announcement regarding her decision to leave, Steele expressed a desire to “exercise my first amendment rights more freely,” hinting at a sense of liberation from the constraints she perceived while under ESPN’s employ.
Steele’s case was part of a larger conversation about vaccine mandates in the workplace, a hot-button issue that has seen a variety of responses from employers and employees alike. Disney itself has faced several lawsuits over its vaccine requirements, demonstrating the contentious nature of these policies.
Throughout the ordeal, Steele maintained her position, emphasizing her respect for individual choice regarding vaccination while arguing for personal autonomy. Her situation also raised questions about the role of media personalities in sharing personal views on political and social issues, as well as the ramifications they face from employers when doing so.
Steele embarks on her “next chapter,” the settlement and her subsequent departure from ESPN underscore the ongoing debate over freedom of speech in the workplace and the delicate balance media companies must strike in managing the public personas of their talent.
Relevant articles:
– Sage Steele believes devil tried to silence her with golf ball strike at PGA Championship weeks after she filed a lawsuit against ESPN for retaliation to silence her
– Sage Steele leaves ESPN after settling her lawsuit over COVID-19 vaccine comments The Associated Press, Tue, 15 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT
– Sage Steele and ESPN part ways after settling lawsuit NBC News, Tue, 15 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT
– Sage Steele Leaving ESPN After Settling Lawsuit Hollywood Reporter, Tue, 15 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT