Arrr, me hearties! Sage Steele be spillin' the beans after leavin' ESPN, sayin' 'tis a grand affair beyond meself!
2023-09-01
Avast ye landlubbers! The fair maiden Sage Steele, once a matey of ESPN, be finally spillin' the beans 'bout her departure from the ship. 'Twas a scurvy lawsuit that kept her from sailin' the airwaves for near two years, all 'cause o' some words she let slip on a podcast.
Sage Steele, a longtime ESPN anchor, announced her departure from the network in August after settling a lawsuit against the company. Her decision to leave came nearly two years after appearing on former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler's podcast, which caused controversy. Steele stated that she wanted to exercise her First Amendment rights more freely. She expressed gratitude for her 16 years at ESPN and looked forward to her next chapter.Steele had been taken off the air for almost two weeks in the fall of 2021 after discussing topics such as COVID-19 vaccine mandates, former President Barack Obama's identification as Black on the census, and female reporters in the locker room. She sued ESPN in April 2022, claiming that the network breached her contract over its reaction to her remarks on the podcast.
Steele described her decision to leave as one of the hardest things she has done professionally and personally. She felt that by taking a stand, she was making a statement with legal action and knew that it would likely lead to her departure from the company she loved. She acknowledged that her decision was not just about herself but about the larger issues of hypocrisy and silence within her company.
Steele emphasized that her comments on the podcast were her personal opinions and experiences. She apologized after the appearance, but felt forced to do so in order to keep her job. Despite facing backlash, Steele hoped that her story would encourage others to speak up and not be afraid to share their opinions.
In conclusion, Sage Steele's departure from ESPN came after settling a lawsuit against the network. She wanted to exercise her First Amendment rights and felt that her decision was bigger than herself. Steele hopes that her story will inspire others and that companies will strive for true diversity, equity, and inclusion.