ESPN Hosts Distance Themselves From Disney-Owned Network's Woke Stance on Biological Men In Women's Sports

ESPN Hosts Distance Themselves From Disney-Owned Network's Woke Stance on Biological Men In Women's Sports


In the past few years, ESPN has gained a reputation for promoting left-leaning ideas, often touching on political issues, and that’s why it came as a surprise when two of its most prominent hosts spoke out against the Biden administration’s proposal to prevent states from prohibiting transgender students from participating in sports based on their gender identity.

Fox News reported that Samantha Ponder and Sage Steele, who are prominent female personalities at ESPN, showed their support for Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer at Kentucky who has been vocal about her opposition to biological men competing against biological women in sports.

“Women with influential platforms are beginning to speak out to the injustice of men competing against women. These women, in particular, have a lot to lose by using their voice, yet chose to anyways. That is what courage is. I’m so honored to be able to lean on them as we continue forward with advocating for sex-protected sporting categories,” Gaines told Fox News Digital.

Steele expressed her solidarity with Riley Gaines and referred to the situation of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports as “ridiculous,” “heartbreaking,” and “difficult to watch.” She also included the hashtag #savewomensports in her statement.

Ponder, who is known for her coverage of the NFL on ESPN, tweeted that the Biden administration’s proposed changes to Title IX would result in the loss of many opportunities for biological women and girls in sports throughout the country, Fox News Digital noted further.

“It is a shame that we are needing to fight for the integrity of Title IX in 2023 and the reason it was needed in the first place,” Ponder noted in her tweet.

Adriana McLamb, a former Division 1 volleyball player and spokesperson for the Independent Women’s Forum, supports Gaines and other female athletes who share her views on transgender athletes in sports, saying she believes that they are on the correct side of the ongoing debate about this issue.

“It is promising to see big names like Sage Steele and Sam Ponder speak out even though their employer ESPN chooses to remain woke,” McLamb told Fox News.

“Now more than ever, it is important for us as female athletes to rally behind Riley Gaines and fight for Title IX,” McLamb added. “We are fighting for all current and future female athletes to compete on a fair playing field just like our predecessors fought for our right to compete to begin with.”

Former ESPN personality Charly Arnolt, who recently joined OutKick, reportedly feels that she was “a little bit stifled” during her time at the network. She left ESPN to have more freedom to express her views on important issues, such as the debate over transgender athletes.

“I have to commend these two women for standing up for these women who, unfortunately, are losing so much of the success that they worked so hard for,” Arnolt said Thursday on then network’s “America’s Newsroom” program.

“As far as ESPN, I don’t really know what their plan is, as far as whether they talk to these women or address it on-air,” Arnolt continued. “I would hope that this would be something they would address, but up to this point, they remain completely mum on this topic, so I’m not sure exactly what happens.”

The ESPN anchors recently voiced their opinions after Gaines tweeted her criticism of a video featuring transgender swimmer and biological ale Lia Thomas. In the video, Thomas wore a shirt that read “Trans athletes belong in sports” and argued that “trans kids” would continue to “lose opportunities” unless there is a change in policy mandated by the Biden administration.

“Under the guise of competitive fairness? Are you really trying to say you would have won a national title against the men? Does it not break your heart to see women lose out on these opportunities? The Biden Admins proposed bill denies science, truth, and common sense,” Gaines noted in a post to accompany Thomas’ video.

“This take is selfish and shows an utter disregard for women,” Gaines continued. “The Biden Administration is actively and aggressively working to pass laws that erase decent and fair treatment for women in sports.”


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