Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • News
  • Politics
  • Coronavirus Updates
  • Faith
  • Opinion
  • Christmas
  • Set Free Course

ESPN Host Removed from Air After Calling Disney’s Vax Mandate ‘Sick’

Jeff Lewis/AP Images for The Players Tailgate
Jeff Lewis/AP Images for The Players Tailgate
Share Tweet
By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

October 5, 2021

ESPN host Sage Steele has issued an apology just days after criticizing her employer, The Walt Disney Company, for mandating staffers’ vaccination against COVID-19.

Last week, on former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler’s podcast, Steele condemned the companywide rule as “sick” and “scary,” noting she “didn’t want to” take the inoculation but felt powerless against it.

Disney, for its part, required all employees to take the shots by Sept. 30.

On Tuesday, the ESPN host apologized for her remarks.

“I know my recent comments created controversy for the company, and I apologize,” she said in a statement, according to USA Today Sports. “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.”

An accompanying statement from ESPN noted the company “embrace[s] different points of view,” but was critical of Steele for her public comments against Disney’s vaccination mandate for employees.

“At ESPN, we embrace different points of view — dialogue and discussion makes this place great,” the brand stated. “That said, we expect that those points of view be expressed respectfully, in a manner consistent with our values, and in line with our internal policies. We are having direct conversations with Sage and those conversations will remain private.”

Front Office Sports reported Tuesday Steele would be off the air for a week both because she has tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days and for her controversial comments about Disney’s vaccine rule.

“Her critical comments about Disney did not go over well in Bristol or Burbank,” FOS reported. “Both ESPN and Steele thought it was appropriate for her to take some time off, said sources.”

In addition to her criticism of Disney’s vaccination mandate, Steele is also taking heat for calling into question how former President Barack Obama classifies himself ethnically. He argued Obama, who, like her, is biracial, shouldn’t identify solely as a black man.

“Well, congratulations to the president — that’s his thing,” she said. “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. I’m gonna do me.”

“Listen, I’m pretty sure my white mom was there when I was born,” added Steele, who has been with ESPN for 15 years. “My white family loves me as much as my black family.”

Former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill rebuked Steele, calling her recent comments “clown behavior.”

So on top of thinking former President Obama shouldn’t identify as black because he didn’t have a relationship with his black father, Sage Steele also thinks female journalists who dress a certain way “know what you’re doing when you’re putting that outfit on.”

Clown behavior. pic.twitter.com/edgTVopQqg

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 3, 2021

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

Latest

  • Entertainment

    ‘You Simply Changed My Life’: Steve Harvey Pens Heartfelt Love Letter to Wife Citing ‘God’s Grace’ and His Journey Overcoming Homelessness

  • Faith

    URGENT PRAYER: Wife of Pastor Detained in China Has a Plea for the Global Church: ‘May the Lord Be Glorified…’

  • Culture

    ‘Honor Them For Their Great Sacrifice’: Chris Pratt Praises Men and Women in Uniform After WWII Veterans Surprise Him at Hollywood Premiere

  • News

    As Pro-Lifers Cheer End of Roe, Democrats Lament SCOTUS Overturning ‘Right’ to Kill the Unborn: ‘One of the Darkest Days Our Country Has Ever Seen’

  • News

    ROE NO MORE: Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade: States Can Ban Abortion


Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?