Former ESPN host Sage Steele has spoken out about feeling "silenced" by the network for expressing certain dissenting opinions. In a recent interview with FOX News, Steele discussed her experience at ESPN and her decision to leave the network. She claimed that she was not the only one who felt silenced and scared, stating that some employees would whisper conversations in corners or even bathrooms because they were afraid to speak openly. Steele specifically mentioned her stance on the COVID-19 vaccine as a topic where she felt silenced by the network. She also expressed frustration with the lack of equity, tolerance, and inclusion at the company, despite those values being frequently mentioned. Steele and ESPN reached a settlement in their lawsuit, in which she alleged she was sidelined for making controversial comments about ESPN's COVID policies and questioning former President Barack Obama's racial identity on a podcast. Steele had been with ESPN since 2007.