Defiant ESPN Anchor Sage Steele Takes A Stand And Fuels A First Amendment Firestorm

This decision came in the wake of a lawsuit settlement, which she said would allow her to "exercise [her] First Amendment rights more freely."

Steele, a seasoned broadcaster, accused ESPN of violating her contract due to remarks she made in a podcast interview in September 2021. She criticized Disney, the network's parent company, for its vaccine mandate and former President Barack Obama for identifying as Black rather than biracial.

Steele's outspokenness about the alleged "hypocrisy" of the network has since won her support, with activists Riley Gaines and Enes Kanter Freedom now rallying behind her.

Kanter Freedom, a former NBA star and human rights advocate, lauded Steele on "Fox & Friends Weekend," saying, "She's fearless. She's amazing at what she's doing, and she's a one brave woman, and I applaud and am proud of her work that's trying to hold people and companies accountable."

 MUST WATCH: GIANT EMPEROR TRUMP FIGURE AT ITALIAN FESTIVAL

August 28, 2023

He went on to discuss the pervasive "cancel culture" in the sports world, stating, "You cannot really say how you feel or what you want to say, or you will get canceled. So that's why it's so hard for athletes to come out and say something because they know what you're going to get."

 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SET TO ESTABLISH "GAZA CAMP" AFTER BEING DENIED FOR LACK OF LEADERSHIP

Kanter Freedom continued to extol Steele, describing her as a "role model" for those in the sports industry who wish to voice their opinions.

Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and women's rights advocate, has been vocal about transgender athletes competing alongside biological females. She expressed that Steele's bravery motivates her to "keep going."

 MUST WATCH: AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTER MOPS THE FLOOR WITH CLIMATE ACTIVISTS

"There are so very few people, whether that's in sports, in academia, in corporate America, in the medical profession, even in the church, there are so very few people willing to stand for what is right, but Sage is one of those. She's someone who I go to for advice. She's someone who inspires me to keep going. We need more people like Sage," Gaines said.

 YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH RESIDENTS IN THESE STATES PAY IN LIFETIME TAXES

Steele recently spoke with "One Nation" host Brian Kilmeade, sharing more about her decision to leave the network after a sixteen-year tenure. She admitted to remaining silent for years, fearing potential backlash, but eventually felt compelled to speak out.

 THE ISRAELI RAFAH INVASION PLAN HAS THE WHITE HOUSE IN A TIZZY

"I didn't know what my line was until it was crossed," Steele confessed.

She added, "And then I knew I had to make the hardest decision of my life to fight back against the company that I literally… I love my job. When you stand up, and you have a lawsuit, you know that that's going to go away. And I was so scared. But I knew that I had to push through that fear and fight or else shut up and stay silent."

In a previous statement to Fox News Digital, the network said, "ESPN and Sage Steele have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank her for her many contributions over the years."