Far-left sports network ESPN has fired one of its female hosts for daring to speak out about the unfairness of allowing men to compete in women’s sports.
ESPN host Sam Ponder was fired on Thursday amid her ongoing criticism of the left’s push for biological men to take over women’s sports — though the network, which is owned by the Walt Disney Company, claimed she was let go for “financial reasons.”
Ponder made headlines earlier this month when she praised Italian fighter Angela Carini for refusing to talk to reporters after she was brutally beaten by a man pretending to be a woman in the Olympics. Carini stopped the fight with male Algerian fighter Imane Khelif after just 46 seconds, though she later kowtowed to the far-left by praising Khelif.
“ENOUGH is what all of us should be saying!! Proud of this woman,” Ponder said in a post on X about Carini.
ENOUGH is what all of us should be saying!! Proud of this woman 👏🏼💪🏼 https://t.co/C23l9Sn2js
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) August 1, 2024
This was not the first time that Ponder spoke out about the issue, publishing a post last year stating: “Biology is not bigotry. Loving people does not require the absence of boundaries.”
Biology is not bigotry. Loving people does not require the absence of boundaries.
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) May 31, 2023
Ponder also appeared to foreshadow her own firing in a post on X in May, explaining that she has been praised by many people for advocating to protect women’s sports, but those people are “afraid to speak up” because they fear being fired for telling the truth.
“I barely said anything publicly [about] this issue & I’ve had so many ppl msg me, stop me in the street to say thank you+ tell me stories [about] girls who are afraid to speak up for fear of lost employment/being called hateful,” she wrote. “It is not hateful to demand fairness in sports for girls.”
I barely said anything publicly abt this issue & I’ve had so many ppl msg me, stop me in the street to say thank you+ tell me stories abt girls who are afraid to speak up for fear of lost employment/being called hateful. It is not hateful to demand fairness in sports for girls https://t.co/teNoMDWNW4
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) May 25, 2023
Meanwhile, social media users were outraged over Ponder’s firing — arguing that ESPN clearly fired her for her views, as she was the only woman at the network who dared to advocate for protecting women’s sports.
Riley Gaines, a former Division 1 swimmer who lost her trophy at an NCAA tournament to male swimmer William “Lia” Thomas, slammed ESPN for the decision — comparing Ponder to another former ESPN host, Sage Steele, who was fired for expressing conservative opinions.
“So ESPN fires [Sam Ponder], the only woman at the network who [has] publicly said men don’t belong in women’s sports,” Gaines wrote. “Three weeks before football season? Sam is one of the most beautiful, genuine women I’ve ever met along with [former ESPN host Sage Steele] who had a similar fate….not a coincidence.”
So ESPN fires @samponder, the only woman at the network who was publicly said men don't belong in women's sports. 3 weeks before football season?
Sam is one of the most beautiful, genuine women I've ever met along with @sagesteele who had a similar fate….not a coincidence. pic.twitter.com/igeC87UOnK
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 15, 2024
Steele also posted a video on X praising Ponder, pointing out that she was “so strong.”
I love you, @samponder ❤️ pic.twitter.com/2IMwURVfMN
— Sage Steele (@sagesteele) August 15, 2024
“I stand with Sam Ponder. She is one of the most amazing women I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I know great things will come for her soon,” wrote Paula Scanlan, an ambassador for the Independent Women’s Forum.
I stand with Sam Ponder.
She is one of the most amazing women I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
I know great things will come for her soon. ❤️ https://t.co/EqIXxLk1TZ
— Paula Scanlan (@PaulaYScanlan) August 15, 2024
