Long-time veteran ESPN host Sage Steele is taking legal action in her workplace. Deadline reports the broadcaster is suing ESPN, the parent company, Walt Disney Co., for a violation of her right to free speech.
During an intense conversation on Uncut with Jay Cutler podcast, Steele made controversial comments letting off some steam about sexism in her workplace, Disney’s COVID-19 comments, and Barack Obama‘s racial identity. The episode aired in September 2021. And a month later, ESPN was acting differently towards Steele.
On October 4, 2021, Steele says the network informed her she was “sidelined” and “taking a break.” Complex reports, “She claims that upon her return in mid-October, she lost a number of highly coveted assignments, like covering the New York City Marathon and the Rose Parade, as well as hosting the 12th Annual ESPNW Summit. Steele also issued a public apology over her remarks.”
“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 read. “… It is clear that ESPN selectively enforces its policies based on whether it agrees with the political views of the employees in question.”
Steele contacted the network’s human resources once she felt a shift and felt was retaliation for her remarks. She also points out in the suit that under Connecticut law, private employers are prohibited from disciplining employees for “engaging in constitutionally protected speech, whether that speech takes place in the workplace or outside of it.”
ESPN’s responded to the lawsuit by saying, “Sage remains a valued contributor on some of ESPN’s highest-profile content, including the recent Masters telecasts and anchoring our noon SportsCenter. As a point of fact, she was never suspended.”
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