When you’re as big a name as the Walt Disney Company, you’re bound to be embroiled in one controversy or another at any given point in time. Despite this inevitability, the Walt Disney Company has had an eventful past couple of years, to say the least. From the fraught situation in Florida with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to their woes when it comes to the financial straits they’ve been working to move away from, the Mouse House has found itself in a sticky situation for a while now.
Recently, another lawsuit that Disney has been embroiled in for the last year has had a new development.
ESPN Anchor Sage Steele Sues Disney for Infringing on Her First Amendment Rights
In 2022, SportsCenter anchor Sage Steele sued the Walt Disney Company when she was allegedly “sidelined” due to her comments about the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on Jay Cutler’s podcast last September. Steele’s lawsuit put forth that ESPN’s treatment of her following her words was retaliation and violated both her contract and her right to free speech.
Steele’s lawsuit contended that ESPN forced Steele to apologize and suspended her for the remarks. ESPN insisted that Steele was not suspended but rather “taking a break”—a distinction that Steele insisted was a euphemism.
Steele Refuses Disney’s Settlement Offer
Per the latest report from Front Sports Office, Walt Disney Co. offered Steele $501,000 plus money to settle the lawsuit. The offer on the table is meant to cover “reasonable” attorney fees. However, Steele has rejected the settlement.
“Disney and ESPN clearly admit their liability by offering to pay Sage Steele more than half a million dollars for taking away her right to free speech. The offer misses the point. Disney cannot purchase their employee’s constitutional rights no matter how powerful they think they are,” Steele’s attorney Bryan Freedman told The NY Post in a statement.
Sage Steele’s lawyer rebukes Disney settlement offer
Sage Steele does not sound inclined to accept Disney’s settlement offer in her free speech suit. Walt Disney Co. offered Steele $501,000 plus money to cover “reasonable” attorney fees to settle the lawsuit that the ESPN a… pic.twitter.com/qworN4X8zM— Let's Talk About Dis Shidd (@MrsBarnesII) June 27, 2023
Freedman continued, “How about apologizing and treating people fairly? Let me put it this way, would Disney be willing to accept money from the state of Florida and Governor DeSantis in exchange for being silenced? Why the double standard?”
It’s certainly ironic for Disney to be sued for violating an employee’s free speech when the crux of their lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis is much the same.
Stay tuned to Disney Fanatic for the latest developments on this and all other Disney news.
