Sage Steele Is Suing ESPN: Sports Media World Reacts
LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 04: Sage Steele attends Culinary Kickoff At Kentucky Derby at Muhammad Ali Center on May 4, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for #Culinary Kickoff)
Sage Steele is suing ESPN on claims that the company violated her free-speech rights by taking assignments away because of comments she made last September.
On former NFL Quarterback Jay Cutler's Uncut podcast, the ESPN anchor called vaccine mandates "sick" and "scary." She also called it "fascinating" that former President Barack Obama identified as Black on his census form “considering his Black dad was nowhere to be found.”
According to Joe Flint of The Wall Street Journal, Steele's lawsuit claims that ESPN unjustly retaliated by temporarily sidelining her. The network insisted she was never suspended.
“Sage is standing up to corporate America to ensure employees don’t get their rights trampled on or their opinions silenced,” Steele's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement.
As many people pointed out on Twitter, the First Amendment right to free speech doesn't mean anyone can say whatever they want without having to ever face consequences. While Steele is entitled to her opinions, her employer can react to comments that they believe reflect poorly on the company.
Steele's lawsuit nevertheless claims she wasn't speaking for her employer on a podcast unaffiliated with ESPN or Disney. It also alleges ESPN violated Connecticut law by punishing an employee for expressing their First Amendment-protected rights.
