Longtime ESPN personality Sage Steele said Tuesday she is leaving the network, with which she had an acrimonious relationship over the past few years.
Steele, a “SportsCenter” anchor and former host of “NBA Countdown,” sued ESPN and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co., contending they violated her right to free speech by removing her from assignments over comments she made about ESPN’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and former President Barack Obama.
“Life update,” Steele, 50, began a tweet on Tuesday. “Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely. I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!”
Settlement terms were not announced regarding the lawsuit, which was filed in April 2022.
“ESPN and Sage Steele have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank her for her many contributions over the years,” an ESPN spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
–Field Level Media