ESPN has made an offer to Sage Steele, who is still employed with the company despite suing them. The offer is for $500k in exchange for dropping her lawsuit. Steele had previously claimed that she was punished for questioning President Obama’s race and criticizing a company’s mandatory vaccination policy. She also alleged that her comments had resulted in her losing desirable work assignments, despite remaining on the air. Front Office Sports has provided further details regarding the proposed settlement.
ESPN has offered Sage Steele $501,000 and to cover “reasonable” attorney fees to settle the “SportsCenter” anchor’s lawsuit filed in the aftermath of her comments about the network’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Steele sued ESPN and parent company Walt Disney Co. in April 2022 over allegations her First Amendment and Connecticut’s free-speech rights were violated.
In the Connecticut state court filing last week, lawyers for ESPN and Disney wrote that the offer should “not be construed as an admission that defendants are liable for any of the claims asserted in this action, or that plaintiff has suffered any damage as a result of any of those claims.”
The two sides entered non-binding mediation in March. The trial is scheduled to begin in March 2024.
In the lawsuit, Steele alleged she was retaliated against after the comments she made on former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler’s podcast in September 2021. During the podcast, Steele called Disney’s vaccine mandate “sick and scary.”
Steele also drew criticisms for questioning why former President Barack Obama identified as Black in the U.S. Census during the same appearance.
It appears that ESPN is currently undergoing cost-cutting measures. However, letting go of Sage may be perceived as a form of retaliation for her lawsuit against the company. On a separate note, it has been observed that Steele holds pro-MAGA views and has demonstrated negative attitudes toward black individuals. Moreover, it has been reported that she has recently gone through a divorce with her white husband.