On social media, ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Sam Ponder is receiving criticism.
On social networking platform X, the ESPN presenter—who cohosts with Randy Moss, Rex Ryan, and others—is drawing criticism for what she wore on her head while the show was airing on Sunday.
Some viewers captured her ensemble on camera or uploaded a photo of her with an odd object tied to her ponytail during Sunday’s ESPN NFL Countdown program.
I was looking for one of my big old neck ties to give my little nephew for church this morning…then I saw @samponder on Sunday NFL Countdown, wearing it on her head lol 🤔 #espnsundaynflcountdown @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/tIreKEGeGk
— SixSense (@SixsenseDFS) November 5, 2023
Why is @samponder wearing a @Raiders napkin on her head? @espn Sunday @nfl Countdown pic.twitter.com/bfUDwdtk5f
— Pete Witte (@petewitte) November 5, 2023
She might not even be aware that people are talking about her attire in this way. Ponder is no new to controversy; following a tweet about transgender athletes participating in high school athletics, she asked for “fairness” in girls’ sports and received backlash.
Riley Gaines, a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky who has been vocal about men in women’s sports, was quoted by Ponder on Twitter. Ponder stated that she has heard tales from girls who want to speak up but choose not to because they fear being labeled as “hateful.”
Columnist Nancy Armour of USA Today saw the tweet and penned a piece criticizing Ponder for her “bigotry.” Ponder has spent more than ten years working for ESPN.
