Smith Warned Steele Against Speaking Out at ESPN
Sage Steele recounted on her podcast how Stephen A. Smith texted her in 2020 to question her decision to speak publicly amid tensions at ESPN. The exchange followed a Wall Street Journal article detailing her exclusion from a network special during the Black Lives Matter movement's peak, after Black colleagues said they would not participate if she was involved. Steele described going on air "shaking," knowing backlash loomed behind the scenes.
Smith expressed concern with a message reading, "Why? How does this help you?" Steele noted his warning stemmed from genuine care, beyond their professional ties, prioritizing principle over job security. She affirmed, "It is bigger than money, it is bigger than position. It’s about principle at some point."
Smith elaborated that Steele faced personal challenges, including a divorce, which fueled her resolve but heightened risks to her family and career stability over the next five to ten years. He contrasted her then-unhappy circumstances at ESPN with her current satisfaction, emphasizing friends consider long-term consequences others ignore for short-term criticism.
Steele departed ESPN in 2023 after settling a lawsuit over her 2021 podcast comments on the network's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which led to her being sidelined. She stated the exit allowed her to exercise First Amendment rights more freely.
