Sage Steele

2022 - 4 - 28

Anchor Sage Steele is suing ESPN over free speech claims (NPR)

Steele's lawyers accuse ESPN and Disney of violating her First Amendment rights and breaching her contract after she made comments on a podcast last ...

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Sage Steele sues ESPN, says 'she was punished for speaking her ... (The Indianapolis Star)

IU grad Sage Steele is suing ESPN for allegedly violating her free speech rights after comments she made about COVID vaccines.

It is clear that ESPN selectively enforces its policies based on whether it agrees with the political views of the employees in question.” In 2017, ESPN released new guidelines for its employees, which, "while allowing for political discussion on the network’s platforms, recommend connecting those comments to sports whenever possible." “Despite fully complying with ESPN's policy, Sage Steele was punished for speaking her truth in violation of freedom of speech protections under Connecticut law and the U.S. constitution," her attorney Bryan Freedman said in a statement. ESPN maintains that Steele was never suspended. On Oct. 5, 2021, Steele released a statement saying, "I know my recent comments created controversy for the company, and I apologize. But to mandate (the COVID vaccine) is sick, and it's scary to me in many ways."

Sage Steele sues ESPN, saying she was 'sidelined' after vaccine ... (NBC News)

ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele on Thursday sued her employer, claiming the company violated her right to free speech when they "sidelined" her for making.

Steele's suit said ESPN has a double-standard. "As a point of fact, she was never suspended.” “When you dress like that, I’m not saying you deserve the gross comments, but you know what you’re doing when you put that outfit on, too,” she said. "And I’m like, well, congratulations to the president. But hey, you do you, I’m going to do me.” “She’s like, ‘Well what happens when you ... fill out your census?’” Steele said.

ESPN's Sage Steele Sues Network, Claims Free Speech Violations ... (Hollywood Reporter)

The cases arises from comments Steele made on a podcast last year about COVID-19 vaccine mandates and former President Barack Obama.

Steele also argues that ESPN condoned her colleagues publicly bullying her despite bringing the harassment to the attention of company executives. “In other words, Gentile openly admitted that ESPN was taking disciplinary action against Steele as a direct result of her constitutionally protected exercise of free speech rights,” the complaint reads. According to the complaint, various news organizations “slammed Steele” by misquoting her and taking her comments out of context. ESPN followed Steele’s apology with a statement that read in part, “We embrace different points of view — dialogue and discussion makes this place great. “Steele was disciplined by her employer in violation of Connecticut state law because she exercised her First Amendment right to express opinions with which ESPN and Disney do not agree.” “Steele also offered some frank, unguarded thoughts about media criticism and the refusal of some individuals to accept opinions unlike their own, or not in accord with those they assume are held by others based on appearance, gender, etc.,” the complaint states.

ESPN anchor Sage Steele files lawsuit against network, alleges ... (USA TODAY)

Longtime anchor Sage Steele claims that ESPN pulled her from her usual hosting roles after she criticized the company's vaccine requirement.

Steele seeks unspecified damages, according to the lawsuit, in which she also claims that ESPN breached her contract. "Steele was disciplined by her employer in violation of Connecticut state law because she exercised her First Amendment right to express opinions with which ESPN and Disney do not agree." "I work for a company that mandates it and I had until September 30th to get it done or I’m out," Steele said.

Sage Steele sues ESPN after remarks on vaccine mandate and ... (The Guardian)

ESPN anchor Sage Steele is suing the network after claiming it curtailed her right to free speech over remarks she made last year.

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, also accuses ESPN of failing to take Steele’s comments in context. “We are in the midst of an extremely challenging time that impacts all of us, and its more critical than ever that we communicate constructively and thoughtfully,” she wrote. And my white family loves me as much as my Black family.”

ESPN Anchor Sage Steele Sues Network, Alleging It “Sidelined” Her ... (Deadline)

ESPN Anchor Sage Steele Sues Network, Alleging It "Sidelined" Her After Comments About Covid And Obama - Reports.

At ESPN, we embrace different points of view – dialogue and discussion makes this place great. “In a knee-jerk reaction, ESPN and Disney relied on the misleading characterizations of her comments, bowed to groupthink and forced Steele to publicly apologize and suspended her for a period of time in October 2021,” the suit also alleges, per NBC. “I think that’s fascinating considering his Black dad is nowhere to be found, but his white mom and grandma raised him, but OK. You do you. The comments in question came on onetime Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler’s podcast. Steele had also recently tested positive for Covid. The decision for her to be off for a week was said at the time to be related to her illness hand described as “mutual.” “I know my recent comments caused controversy for the company, and I apologize,” she said in a statement relayed by ESPN. “We are in the midst of an extremely challenging time that impacts all of us, and it’s more critical than ever that we communicate constructively and thoughtfully.”