Sports Journalist Sage Steele Exits ESPN After Settling Lawsuit: ‘I Have Decided To Exercise My First Amendment Right More Freely’

Sports Journalist Sage Steele Exits ESPN After Settling Lawsuit: ‘I Have Decided To Exercise My First Amendment Right More Freely’

Sage Steele has announced her exit from ESPN.

The now-former co-host of the 12pm SportsCenter on ESPN announced her departure on Twitter on Tuesday (August 15). Sage Steele said,

“Life update. Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely. I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!””

The television anchor’s announcement comes after she settled a 2022 lawsuit filed against the Disney network, alleging the business retaliated against her for statements she had made on a podcast against the COVID-19 vaccination and other political and social issues.

Barack Obama

As previously reported, Sage Steele questioned the COVID-19 immunization requirements and made remarks about former President Barack Obama identifying as Black rather than biracial during a 2021 appearance on the Uncut with Jay Cutler podcast.

At the time, Steele, who is also biracial, commented on Barack Obama and the biracial community and said,

“If they make you choose a race, what are you gonna put? Well, both. She’s like ‘Well, you can’t. Barack Obama chose Black and he’s biracial.’ I’m like ‘Congratulations to the President, that’s his thing. I think that’s fascinating considering his Black dad was nowhere to be found but his white mom and grandma raised him, but okay. You do you. I’m gonna do me.’”

Black Twitter users don’t seem to be upset over Steele‘s departure.

According to one Twitter user,

“ESPN fired actual talented people with actual meaningful things to say and kept this wacko around just for her to leave on her own whining on her way out. F*ck sage Steele and f*ck ESPN.”

Another user contended,

“I’m taking bets on where this “I’m a white girl with a tan” anti Black person will go … Fox News …. Newsmax …or OAN perhaps outkick …”

Another Twitter user said,

“Sage Steele and Michelle Tafoya bout to team up to form the MAGA women version of Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless”

Sneak preview of Sage Steele’s next chapter: https://t.co/ZQ8y3ZTxoX pic.twitter.com/6hkbq9575O

— Uncle Jon Jon ³ (@HotWingKilla) August 15, 2023

Sage Steele now free to fully do the #DaffyShuffle and be the Female Jason Whitlock.
Watch her doing the Fox circuit real soon… https://t.co/Tp3VjGyBEB pic.twitter.com/Vd0L0PhaFv

— Kevin D. Grüssing ? (pronounced Grew-sing) (@KevDGrussing) August 15, 2023

Sage Steele & Charley Caruso providing conservative conspiracy theories on Outkick within 6 months. https://t.co/ftW4awHfuU pic.twitter.com/hgTEDpfhgV

— Mychael (@MykeLowrey_) August 15, 2023

What are your thoughts on Sage Steele leaving ESPN? Let us know in the comments!