Story at a glance:
- During a podcast interview, Sage Steele made controversial comments on former President Obama’s race and female journalists experiencing harassment.
- Steele says women “know what [they’re] doing” when they “dress like that.”
- One reporter wrote, in condemning Steele’s comments, that this is “clown behavior.”
ESPN anchor Sage Steele is facing backlash after she made controversial comments during a podcast over the weekend, including criticizing former President Obama’s answers to the census and the clothing women journalists wear.
On Tuesday, the cable sports channel suspended Steele from her regular noon “Sportscenter” slot for a week and removed her as host for the 2021 “espnW: Women + Sports Summit,” which will take place from Oct 18-20.
On the “Uncut with Jay Cutler” podcast, guest Steele said it was “fascinating” that Obama selected African American when filling out his 2010 census form, adding that Obama was raised by his white mother and grandmother, and not his father.
Steele was talking about a previous interview on TV when she was getting “ripped” for identifying as biracial. Steele recounted the story, saying one of the TV hosts asked: “If they make you choose a race, what are you gonna put?,” to which she replied: “Well, both.”
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Steele herself is a Black and Irish/Italian mixed woman.
The host then told her that you have to choose one on the census form and that Obama selected African American on his.
In retelling the exchange, Steele has been accused of downplaying Obama’s Blackness for being raised by a white mother and grandmother.
“I’m like, ‘Well, congratulations to the president, that’s his thing,” she said. “I think that’s fascinating considering his Black dad is nowhere to be found, but his white mom and grandma raised him, but okay. You do you. I’m gonna do me.”
“Listen, I’m pretty sure my white mom was there when I was born. And my white family loves me as much as my Black family,” she added.
The conversation also turned to female journalists and Steele’s experience in sports journalism. She told Cutler that she has rejected requests from women asking for her advice and help in the industry because she doesn’t want to associate with reporters she sees as presenting themselves in an overly sexualized way.
Steele added that women should wear different clothes to avoid harassment.
“When you dress like that, I’m not saying you deserve the gross comments, but you know what you’re doing when you’re putting that outfit on, too,” Steele said. “Like, women are smart, so don’t play coy and put it all on the guys.”
In his 1995 memoir, “Dreams from my Father,” Obama, who did spend time with his stepfather in Indonesia from 1967 to 1971, wrote about his relationship with his father and the impact his absence had while growing up, BET reported. Obama’s father died at the age of 48, around the time Obama was 21.
ESPN issued a statement, saying: “At ESPN, we embrace different points of view — dialogue and discussion makes this place great. That said, we expect that those points of view be expressed respectfully, in a manner consistent with our values, and in line with our internal policies.”
Steele reportedly sent an apology to ESPN, according to sports reporter John Ourand.
“I know my recent comments created controversy for the company, and I apologize,” Steele reportedly wrote. “We are in the midst of an extremely challenging time that impacts all of us, and it’s more critical than ever that we communicate constructively and thoughtfully.”
Several current and former ESPN anchors condemned Steele’s comments. Cari Champion tweeted, “Le Sigh. My Dad wasn’t around when I was younger. I’m still Black.”
Sarah Spain tweeted: “a reminder to women journalists — and women everywhere — that what you wear should have no effect on whether or not you’re safe at work.”
Jemele Hill also wrote: “So on top of thinking former President Obama shouldn’t identify as Black because he didn’t have a relationship with his black father, Sage Steele also thinks female journalists who dress a certain way ‘know what you’re doing when you’re putting that outfit on.’”
“Clown behavior.” Hill tweeted.
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