ESPN Anchor Sage Steele Sues Network, Claiming It “Sidelined” After Comments On Covid And Obama – Reports

SportsCenter co-host Sage Style is suing ESPN and parent company The Walt Disney Co. for alleged violations of its contract and free speech. Multiple relationships.

Steele reportedly said he was “separated” from the network last year after commenting on ESPN’s coveted policies and former President Barack Obama’s ethnicity.

The Wall Street Journal notes that the lawsuit claims that even after the style returned from a week-long hiatus, the nature of which it also claims, the host lost important assignments such as the New York City marathon and hosted the New York City annual event. the network that highlights women and diversity. Voices.

Steele said in a legal release that he contacted ESPN’s human resources department with his concerns and then offered co-hosting duties to The Masters.

The comments come from a podcast by former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Style described the ESPN / Disney vaccination mandate as “sick and terrible”. (Disney was one of the first large employers to decide to require workers to be vaccinated, a measure that was later used extensively throughout corporate America.)

In addition to Covid, Style has also questioned the fact of naming Obama black, given the circumstances of his upbringing.

“I congratulate the president. This is your job, “he said.” I think it’s fascinating considering his black dad is nowhere to be found, but his white mother and grandmother raised him, but hey. You do. I will.

Steele is the protagonist of the network’s flagship evening edition Ს Central Port. After his comments, Style took a week off from the show.

ESPN declined to comment on why it backed down when contacted by Deadline.

The style was also recently confirmed in Covid. The decision to let him rest for a week was considered at the time to be related to his illness as a “relationship”.

As soon as his comments became known, ESPN released the following statement to Deadline:

At ESPN, we discuss different points of view – dialogue and discussion make this place great. That said, we expect this different point of view to be expressed with respect, in line with our internal values ​​and policies. We have direct conversations with the page and these conversations will remain private.

At the time, Style also acknowledged her role in the situation and apologized.

“I know my recent comments have caused controversy in the company and I apologize,” he said in a statement to ESPN. “We are in the midst of an extremely difficult period that affects us all and constructive and thoughtful communication is more critical than ever.”

Stele’s lawsuit alleges that ESPN “violated Connecticut law and Stella’s rights to free speech, misrepresented her non-existent and unenforced comments and labor policies that are nothing but excuses.” according to the Wall Street Journal, which says the action requires unspecified damages.

“In an instinctive reaction, ESPN and Disney relied on the misleading characteristics of his comments, gave in to groupthink and forced the style to publicly apologize and temporarily discontinue business in October 2021,” the lawsuit claims. On NBC.

Today, ESPN released a statement to Deadline saying, “Sage continues to be an invaluable contributor on some of the greatest content on ESPN’s profile, including the recent Master’s TV show and host of our Afternoon Sports Center. In fact, he was never arrested. “