ESPN analyst reveals how ex-colleague's Obama comments became point of contention

Sage Steele, successful a suit against her erstwhile employer, ESPN, accused expert Ryan Clark of refusing to enactment with her owed to opposing governmental views.

Clark admitted precocious connected "The Michele Tafoya Show" that portion of the accusation wasn't false, but helium felt the request to wide the air.

Tafoya asked Clark astir the lawsuit, which alleged Clark refused to enactment with Steele aft she made arguable comments connected erstwhile NFL backmost Jay Cutler's podcast successful 2021.

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ESPN expert Ryan Clark broadcasts from the tract earlier a crippled betwixt the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets astatine Levi's Stadium Sept. 9, 2024, successful Santa Clara, Calif. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

On the podcast, Steele reflected connected an quality connected "The View," successful which she said Barbara Walters "ripped me" for saying it was "important" to statement herself arsenic biracial.

Steele said Walters past brought up that erstwhile President Barack Obama, who is biracial, chose "Black" erstwhile filling retired paperwork for a census.

"I'm like, well, congratulations to the president. That's his thing. I deliberation that's fascinating considering his Black dada was obscurity to beryllium found, but his achromatic ma and grandma raised him. But hey, you bash you. I'm going to bash me," Steele said connected Cutler's podcast.

Clark said helium disagreed with Steele connected galore governmental topics, including her vaccination stance and Colin Kaepernick's protests, but helium had "no issue" with her being a conservative.

"Sage Steele being a blimpish was, like, the worst-kept concealed astatine ESPN," the erstwhile Pittsburgh Steelers antiaircraft backmost quipped.

However, her comments connected Obama were the "only" happening that "offended" him and prompted him to talk with a shaper astatine ESPN astir hosting a conception together.

Sage Steele takes the signifier during a Donald Trump run rally astatine Lancaster Airport Nov. 3, 2024, successful Lititz, Pa. (Getty Images)

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"As a Black antheral who understands that nary substance what President Obama decides to cheque disconnected arsenic his race, he’s going to beryllium seen arsenic an full state arsenic a Black man. He’s going to beryllium viewed if policemen say, ‘The fishy is simply a Black, tall, slender, light-skinned man,’ President Obama would acceptable that description," Clark said. 

"He’s besides a antheral that was joined to a Black woman. He was besides a antheral that was raising 2 young Black daughters. And I felt that was disrespectful to say, ‘Why would idiosyncratic with that humor moving done their veins privation to correspond that culture?'"

Clark admitted helium told a shaper helium wanted different host, Matt Barrie, to "conduct my segment."

"Because what I cognize is this … chemistry is simply a ample portion of TV. It’s a ample portion of our quality to beryllium capable to entertain. And I didn’t privation my discomfort with what she said to amusement connected screen," Clark said.

Clark said it was a one-time happening with Steele, and they were capable to "work … successful a precise cordial way" until she near ESPN. He added they nary longer speak, "but I evidently privation her each the champion successful each her endeavors."

ESPN's Ryan Clark chats with colleagues connected aerial earlier a crippled betwixt the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars Dec. 4, 2023, astatine EverBank Stadium successful Jacksonville, Fla. (Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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"She present has recovered a spot where, entertainment-wise, she feels similar she fits, she feels similar she has a dependable and she has a passion. And I consciousness similar we each should beryllium entitled to that, whether you hold oregon disagree."

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