Stephen A. Smith’s Unforgettable Support Text to Sage Steele Amid ESPN Risk

Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele and commentator Stephen A. Smith recently revisited a tense episode from their time at the network. Steele described being left off a June 2020 ESPN special about race. Smith recalled sending a brief, concerned text after Steele issued a Wall Street Journal statement about the exclusion.

What happened during the 2020 special

ESPN aired “Time for Change: We Won’t Be Defeated” in June 2020. The hour-long program addressed race and Black athletes’ experiences following George Floyd’s death. Hosts included Elle Duncan, Michael Eaves, Jay Harris and Maria Taylor.

Sage Steele, who is biracial, did not appear. The Wall Street Journal reported that Duncan and Eaves had raised concerns to ESPN leaders about how Steele would be received. ESPN disputed that colleagues’ actions or Steele’s views drove the decision.

Stephen A. Smith’s response

Steele discussed the episode on The Sage Steele Show podcast. She said she released a statement to The Wall Street Journal opposing efforts to define Black identity. After that statement, Stephen A. Smith texted her a short question: “Why? How does this help you?”

Smith told Steele he was unaware of behind-the-scenes discussions about the special. He said his message came from worry about Steele’s family and personal situation. Smith referenced Steele’s private divorce and the potential fallout for her children.

Support and intent

Smith explained he feared critics would seize the moment. He said friends should consider long-term consequences for family. Steele said she remembered the text for its personal care beyond professional concerns.

Network reaction and later developments

An ESPN spokesman denied that Steele was excluded due to an internal campaign. Duncan and Eaves issued a joint note after the special. They said they wished for more time to include more voices and hoped attention would not distract from the program’s message.

Steele left ESPN in August 2023 after settling a lawsuit. She had been removed from the air in October 2021 over comments about the company’s COVID-19 vaccine policy. Steele had worked at ESPN since 2007 and said she departed to exercise First Amendment rights more freely.

Where colleagues landed

Michael Eaves, who joined ESPN in 2015, remains with the network. Elle Duncan later left ESPN in November to join Netflix’s sports programming. Maria Taylor departed ESPN in July 2021 after leaked audio from a colleague, then joined NBC Sports less than a week later.

Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor developments and report on related commentary from both sides. The exchange highlights how a short text from Stephen A. Smith became an unforgettable show of support during a fraught ESPN moment.