ESPN takes Sage Steele off air after controversy, reported COVID diagnosis

ESPN lifted the anchor of “SportsCenter” Sage Steele from the air for a week after making inflammatory remarks about the vaccine and former President Barack Obama, according to reports.

The longtime sports network figure has also contracted COVID-19, sources told the business newspaper Front Office Sports. “But his absence on the air goes beyond his diagnosis,” wrote the business newspaper. “ESPN and Steele both thought it was appropriate for her to take time off.”

Steele was also removed from his role as moderator of the “espnW: Women + Sports Summit” event in mid-October, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

“At ESPN, we take different points of view – dialogue and discussion make this place great,” ESPN said in a statement released by The Hill. “That said, we expect these views to be expressed with respect, in a manner consistent with our values ​​and in accordance with our internal policies.”

ESPN did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

Steele also posted a mea culpa via the Sports Network: “I know my recent comments have created controversy for the company, and I apologize.”

In a controversial podcast with former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler last week, Steele called ESPN and parent company Disney’s vaccine tenure “sick” and “scary,” but said she had been vaccinated that day to keep her job. She also criticized Obama for apparently marking he was black on the census. “I think it’s fascinating considering his black dad was nowhere to be found, but his white mom and grandmother raised him, but hey you do. I’m going to do it, ”she said.

Steele, who said she wanted to indicate that she was mixed race during the census, added, “Look, I’m pretty sure my white mother was there when I was born. And my white family loves me as much as my black family.

She also suggested that female journalists encourage harassment by dressing provocatively.