Sage Steele debunks ESPN’s “hypocrisy” about considering political opinions in an interview with Megyn Kelly
Sage Steele debunks ESPN’s “hypocrisy” about considering political opinions in an interview with Megyn Kelly
- The longtime presenter spent 16 years at ESPN and announced their split this week
- Steele was visibly emotional as she discussed her exit from the Bristol company
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Sage Steele has spoken emotionally about the inner turmoil she experienced during her time with the four-letter network after voicing views that were directly at odds with its ethos.
Steele announced on Wednesday that she had settled her case with Disney/ESPN and was moving on after 16 years with the Bristol group.
the previous sport Center The host sued the network in April 2022 after alleging that ESPN violated her First Amendment rights and Connecticut’s freedom of speech laws by suspending her for comments about former President Barack Obama and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Steele refused to take the stab, and consistently held views at odds with a largely vocal, hyper-liberal staff that included Malika Andrews, Elle Duncan and Sarah Spain, among others.
In her first public interview since receiving her professional freedom, Steele was visibly emotional as she spoke about the four-letter network and her experience with Megyn Kelly.
Megyn Kelly was joined by Stage Steele for an emotional first interview after leaving ESPN
Sage Steele left the Bristol group on Wednesday after 16 years
“All I ever wanted was consistency,” Steele said Friday. Steele criticized ESPN for allowing the likes of Andrews, Duncan and Spain to state their views both on air and online, but instead withdrew Steele from the air to comment Uncut with Jay Cutler.
“I should be able to express my personal opinions about my experiences in my free time without telling others what to do or what to think about being multiracial or being forced to get vaccinated,” she said. “And I think that’s exactly what breaks my heart; is that I had different rules than everyone else.’
The ban was imposed in October 2021 following Steele’s interview on the Jay Cutler podcast, in which she dismissed COVID-19 vaccination requirements as “sick,” criticized women for provocatively dressing, and Obama’s claims that he identified as African American, questioned .
She had to apologize before going back on the air.
“I didn’t mean to apologize,” Steele told Kelly. “I fought and I fought and I begged and I screamed.” And I was told that if I wanted to keep my job I had to apologize. And I need my job and I love my job, Megyn. I loved it. Loved it! Every moment.
“I knew there was a line somewhere. I just didn’t know what it was until it was crossed.’ And then, for Steele, it was the moment she was removed from ABC’s coverage of the Rose Parade.
“That was it,” she said. “I realized I had mentally checked out and the hypocrisy of the rules broke my heart again. Either a rule applies to everyone or no one, but you can choose and especially if it’s just one person, it’s just me.
The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Front Office Sports previously reported that Steele was offered $501,000 by the network to drop her lawsuit.