Latest news with #TheSageSteeleShow
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
NFL star Aaron Rodgers relishes married life
Aaron Rodgers is loving life as a married man. The 41-year-old sports star and his partner Brittani tied the knot earlier this year, and Aaron insists there's "no better feeling in the world" than being a married man. He told the NFL Network: "When you meet the right one, and you're with the right one, your whole world changes in a second. And to have that person that unconditionally loves you behind the scenes, there's no better feeling in the world, and I have the most incredible wife." Aaron admits that his wife has transformed his life, giving him a renewed sense of self-belief. The NFL star - who previously dated the likes of Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley - said: "I just really love her, and I'm so thankful to have her by my side at the end. When you have that stability and that rock behind you at the house, you feel like you can do anything." Aaron has made a concerted effort to keep details about his marriage under wraps. However, he confirmed that he was dating Brittani during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show in December. Asked about his plans for the festive season, Aaron replied: "There was one package left for my girlfriend Brittani that hadn't showed up yet. I was waiting on this to show up, it showed up today." Aaron subsequently opened up about his love life, laughing off the idea that he was dating pop star Britney Spears. He clarified: "Not Brittany Spears, no, this is Brittani with an 'i'." Aaron then confirmed Brittani doesn't follow The Pat McAfee Show and that she doesn't have a presence on social media, either. Aaron also admitted that he was very happy with Brittani. Asked about being "in love", the Pittsburgh Steelers star replied: "It's a good feeling, boys. It is." Meanwhile, Danica Patrick, his ex-girlfriend, previously accused Aaron of being "emotionally abusive" during their time together. The former racing driver dated Aaron between January 2018 and July 2020, and Danica opened up about the circumstances surrounding their break-up. Danica said on The Sage Steele Show: "It was my life. So like when you live with somebody, it's your whole life. And because the nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive, so that wore me down to nothing."
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Sam Ponder breaks silence on ESPN firing, claims transgender views and social media activity led to silent blacklisting
Sam Ponder claims her ESPN departure wasn't due to budget cuts, but rather her support for female athletes (Getty Images) More than a year after her unexpected exit from ESPN, former NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder is finally sharing the behind-the-scenes truth—and it's nothing like the 'budget cuts' explanation viewers were fed in 2023. In a candid appearance on The Sage Steele Show, Ponder claimed that her support for female athletes and her cautious views on transgender participation in women's sports led to internal pushback, quiet censorship, and ultimately, her departure. A retweet that triggered a warning and set the tone for her ESPN exit The tipping point came in July 2023, when Ponder retweeted a video of Paula Scanlan—a former teammate of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas—sharing her experience at UPenn. Ponder's comment was mild: she simply encouraged followers to 'listen.' But that act alone sparked a warning from a higher-up at ESPN. She recalled receiving a private email urging her not to 'misgender people,' which she interpreted as a veiled threat. 'I knew I was on the clock,' Ponder admitted. The network reportedly flagged more of her online activity, including a 'liked' tweet from Megyn Kelly joking that 'men don't need gynecologists.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investigadora argentina revela hallazgos sobre el magnesio Salud Esencial Leer más Undo Ponder didn't think it was controversial. 'It was just a favorite,' she said. 'I didn't think that was a big deal.' ESPN listed it as budget cuts, but Sam Ponder says her schedule wasn't the problem While ESPN cited cost-cutting as the official reason behind her departure—lumping her in with figures like Robert Griffin III—Ponder believes her limited role on Sunday NFL Countdown wasn't actually draining company resources. Instead, she feels her open support for female athletes like Riley Gaines made her an internal liability. She even mentioned avoiding coverage of Gaines during Women's History Month out of fear of backlash. 'I knew I was supposed to talk about Riley,' Ponder confessed. 'But I didn't.' Sam Ponder has no regrets: 'I wasn't trying to be controversial' Samantha Ponder Breaks Her Silence Since ESPN Firing (FIRST Interview) | The Sage Steele Show Despite the fallout, Ponder doesn't feel bitter. She called her firing 'one of the best things that's ever happened' to her, saying, 'I was on the hamster wheel. I wasn't going to jump off on my own.' Her final message was clear: 'I wasn't trying to be controversial. I just wanted people to hear stories I wasn't seeing on SportsCenter.' Also Read: Joy Taylor's FOX Sports scandal: Everything about the backstage drama, show cancellations, and lawsuit that led to her exit With the debate around inclusion in women's sports only growing louder, Ponder's revelations have reignited a culture war ESPN may not be able to sidestep much longer. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Sam Ponder breaks silence on ‘legit crazy' reasons for ESPN firing one year after shocking exit
Sam Ponder ties her shocking ESPN exit last year to her views on transgender athletes and an infrequent work schedule, and believes some of the reasoning for it is 'legit crazy.' Ponder, who spent 14 years with the Worldwide Leader before being let go last August, provided her first deep dive on her dismissal on Wednesday's episode of 'The Sage Steele Show' and primarily linked it to a chain of events coinciding with a July 2023 retweet about transgender athletes. 'I don't really think me losing my job was solely because of that, but the timing of it almost certainly was,' Ponder said while opening up on her exit. 'I was told after the fact privately that most people at the top of the company did agree with me on the issue but there is a loud activist group at Disney and they were not happy with me. I can say all that and tell this part of the story and still tell you, Sage, it's one of the best things that ever happened to me. Advertisement 6 Ponder opened up on her ESPN exit. @TheSageSteeleShow/YouTube 'I was on that hamster wheel and I was not going to jump off on my own. I needed to get kicked off. As much as the part of the reasoning behind it is legit crazy, I feel no bitterness or even frankly sadness. I had a great career, I was 20 years in the business. I met some awesome people and there are still some really great people there. Never thought this would kind of be the way out but should have spoken up a long time before, I should have been a lot more courageous when I knew what was right.' The former 'Sunday NFL Countdown' host revealed she knew her time could be coming to an end after the chain of events started two years ago with her retweeting a video post of former Penn swimmer Paula Scanlan detailing her time as a teammate of transgender athlete Lia Thomas. Advertisement Ponder wrote in a quote tweet of an Independent Women's Forum post: 'No matter where you stand on this issue, it is well worth your time to listen to @PaulaYScanlan share her own story as someone who actually lived this while a female athlete at UPenn.' 'I didn't think that was going to get that much of a response, but it did,' Ponder said. Ponder said she had one or two other replies to individuals that she called 'fairly innocuous,' although she already had come under fire for supporting controversial former swimmer Riley Gaines, who is one of the leading voices in attempting to keep transgender athletes separate from women's athletics. An ESPN higher-up allegedly then emailed Ponder claiming the company was 'uncomfortable' with her discussing transgender women in women's sports and 'they weren't going to allow me to misgender people.' She followed up asking for specifics, to which the individual could not immediately provide. Advertisement 'Because I still didn't think, and I didn't say anything mean-spirited, I was basically trying to give more spotlight, whatever limited spotlight I had, to these girls' stories, whether it was Riley Gaines or Paula, cause I just felt like I wasn't seeing it on 'SportsCenter,'' Ponder said. 'I honestly didn't think it was that big of a deal, but when I got the email I knew it was.' Ponder, 39, said she received a detailed email the following week that noted how she favorited a tweet from conservative voice Megyn Kelly that said men don't need gynecologists. Ponder said she didn't view that as a big deal, having just favorited it, and added that 'we've all agreed' with that viewpoint. 'In some ways, I thought it was funny how ridiculous it is,' Ponder said. 'Any woman who's been to the gynecologist can understand that, I think.' Advertisement The email also contained further specific examples of anything the company allegedly deemed 'offensive' and she claimed they basically warned her, 'We're not doing this.' 6 Sam Ponder during a 'Sunday NFL Countdown' panel in 2017 Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP And that's when Ponder made a startling realization. 'I knew then that I was on the clock if you will,' Ponder said. The discussion surrounding transgender athletes had already been a hot topic for Ponder, who recalled a series of events surrounding Women's History Month that bothered her. 6 Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in 2022. USA TODAY Sports ESPN asked her in 2023 to a profile of a woman who was the 'most inspirational' for Women's History Month and while she wanted to choose Gaines, she opted for her mother. 'I knew deep down in that moment I was supposed to talk about Riley,' Ponder said. 'So, I did a little self-censorship there.' Advertisement When ESPN aired a piece recognizing Thomas in 2023, it didn't sit well with Ponder. 6 Ponder discussing a Vikings-Packers game in 2021 in a clip she posted to Instagra. @samanthaponder/Instagram 'That just did something to me,' Ponder said. 'I don't know why, but it's kind of emotional to me. Man, there's so many incredible women that have dealt with all the struggles that are unique to womanhood. 'And for the company to basically say, we're going to take that spot and we're going to give it to someone who by their own admission, has only quote-unquote become a woman within the last year, was Will Thomas on the team the year before, and I'm hearing stories about these girls who were in the locker room saying, 'I had to get undressed in front of a fully intact male 18 times a week.' And we're a company that — I thought — feminists and girl power and we've got all these women in position of power, we're not going to listen to that voice, we're not going to platform that voice to say, 'Hey man, 'I'm uncomfortable with this. We're going to silence these people?' Advertisement Fast forward to last summer and the discussion of gold-medal winning boxer Imane Khelif, whose eligibility became an international storyline. 6 Ponder (r) and Steele (l) during a recent podcast. @TheSageSteeleShow/YouTube Some questioned her sex during her run to Olympic fame after allegedly previously failing a gender test, and an Italian boxer ended a fight early against her since it was 'unjust.' Ponder quote-tweeted an Aug. 1 a post featuring comments from said boxer, Angela Carini, with the caption: 'ENOUGH is what all of us should be saying!! Proud of this woman 👏🏼💪🏼.' Advertisement 'I knew when I sent that, like, this isn't going to go over well,' Ponder said. 'But to me, that's abuse. You have a male in a boxing ring with a female literally beating her and we're just supposed to like, 'Yay,' in the name of inclusion. No, like, what about her?' Ponder said the next week, while she was at a store down the road from the house shared by her and former NFL quarterback Christian Ponder, she received a text asking her to hop on a call in an hour with several folks, including one she never deals with. Advertisement 'I was like, this is it,' Ponder said. ESPN characterized Ponder's exit — along with Robert Griffin III — as financial decisions, The Post previously reported, and the pair still had time left on their deals. Ponder noted that she believes her infrequent appearances on ESPN programming factored into the company moving on. 6 Imane Khelif and Italy's Angela Carini during last year's Olympics. AP 'I never believe I was solely fired for this,' Ponder said of her views on transgender athletes. 'I think the model of my career at that point, only working Sundays in the fall on 'Countdown' was not what they wanted and they felt like they were paying me too much money to do just one thing. I had turned down opportunities in the past to work more and do more because of the season of life I'm in, I got three little kids. I'm not giving up that time with them for any opportunity.' Ponder also added that she believes that in commenting on transgender athletes and the fierce discussion surrounding the topic, she had been sticking to sports. 'I thought this was sports. We're talking about female collegiate athletes, Olympic athletes, and it's wrong to shine a voice on that and give another voice, another opinion?' Ponder said. 'I wasn't against debate or healthy discussion. I just didn't want anyone telling me, 'No, no, no, you can't talk about that. I wasn't really giving my own opinions on it, as much as I was saying, 'Listen to these girls, they're in the locker rooms. Why do their opinions not deserve a platform when we're giving awards for Women's History Month to someone born male? I couldn't understand it, I still don't understand it.'
Newsweek
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Roseanne Barr Addresses ABC Firing After Racist Tweet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Actress and comedian Roseanne Barr spoke out this week about her 2018 firing from ABC over a racist tweet she made about Valerie Jarrett, a former senior adviser to former President Barack Obama. Newsweek has reached out to Barr's representative via email for comment on Friday. The Context Barr, 72, rose to fame on her hit ABC sitcom Roseanne, which premiered in 1988. The show ran for nine seasons until 1997, and it was revived in 2018. The actress, who has been outspoken in her support of President Donald Trump, was given the axe after just nine episodes of the revival following her racist tweet about Jarrett in which she compared her to an ape. She later issued an apology and tweeted: "I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste." In a 2018 interview with her friend Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Barr said she made herself "a hate magnet." "I horribly regret it. Are you kidding? I lost everything, and I regretted it before I lost everything," the comedian said. "And I said to God, 'I am willing to accept whatever consequences this brings because I know I've done wrong. I'm going to accept what the consequences are,' and I do, and I have." After the revival of Roseanne was cancelled, ABC rebranded the show as The Conners, ultimately killing off Barr's character. What To Know During Wednesday's appearance on The Sage Steele Show, Barr spoke out about Roseanne's cancellation. "They got rid of me for a lot of reasons, and one of them being, I would have done a show about don't get the [COVID-19] vaccine, so they couldn't have me," she said. Barr added: "I would have said, 'Hey, they're stealing the election.' They couldn't have me because I always talked about reality on my show, and they always had a problem with that—ABC." "Even back in the early days of your show?" host Sage Steele asked. "Even back in the '90s?" "Oh yeah. Every day was a fight," Barr replied. Vaccine skepticism has been on the rise following the COVID-19 pandemic. One in five Americans believe vaccines are more dangerous than the illnesses, according to a 2024 Gallup poll, which is an increase from 11 percent in 2019. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines underwent the most intensive safety analysis in U.S. history," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state on their website. "COVID-19 vaccines continue to be monitored for safety, even after FDA approval, to make sure they continue to meet FDA's standards for safety and effectiveness." The recent rise in measles cases—a highly contagious infection that was once considered eradicated in the U.S.—has been linked to anti-vaccine sentiment. Meanwhile, concerns over election fraud have also run rampant. Trump said he "won" 2020 election over his opponent Joe Biden, saying there was widespread voter fraud, and in 2024, there were concerns that the election was "rigged" in favor of Trump against then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Roseanne Barr onstage during the "Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne Barr" at the Hollywood Palladium on August 4, 2012, in Hollywood, California. Roseanne Barr onstage during the "Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne Barr" at the Hollywood Palladium on August 4, 2012, in Hollywood, People Are Saying In the comments underneath Barr's interview with Steele, fans praised their conversation. YouTube user @ElaineGates-f9i wrote: "Absolutely loved this. Roseanne is great! Sage you do wonderful interviews." @cheryleaston6820 said: "Great interview. Roseanne is a force to reckon with." @kpt002 shared: "Sage and Roseanne! This combination I need to see!" @charlottebonavia9157 remarked: "This interview is a REAL GIFT in so many has gone through So Much and shows us how and what is really important......." @sooper109 added: "Thanks for having Roseanne on your show. She knows what's up!!! Much appreciation and love to both of you!"
New York Post
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Aaron Rodgers' mystery wife nowhere to be found on his weekend adventures
Aaron Rodgers had some fun in the sun this weekend in Southern California — sans his mysterious other half. The new Steelers quarterback took in a three-hour workout session Saturday, as seen in exclusive photos obtained Monday by The Post, before hitting the beach the following day with a pal and his adorable husky pup near his Malibu home. The outings come two weeks after Rodgers, 41, confirmed he's been married a 'couple of months.' 9 Aaron Rodgers was photographed in Southern California over the weekend as his mysterious wife remains out of sight. © New York Post 9 The new Steelers quarterback was photographed taking in a three-hour workout on June 21, 2025. © New York Post The four-time league MVP — who was dating a woman named Brittani as of December 2024 — initially sparked marriage buzz earlier this month when he wore a black band in an official Steelers portrait after agreeing to a one-year, $13.65 million deal with the club. Speculation about Rodgers' spouse has only continued to mount since his bombshell revelation, as his significant other has remained out of sight. 9 Aaron Rodgers (r.) strolled the beach with a friend on June 22, 2025. © New York Post 9 He played in the sand with his adorable husky pup. © New York Post 9 The Super Bowl winner wore his wedding band to the beach. © New York Post Insiders recently told the Daily Mail that members of his family are 'unconvinced the marriage is real,' speculating if the quarterback 'may have had a symbolic 'commitment ceremony' instead of a legally binding wedding.' Prior to his romance with Brittani, Rodgers was engaged to actress Shailene Woodley. They ended their engagement in early 2022. The ex-Jet also dated actress Olivia Munn and retired NASCAR driver Danica Patrick. 9 Aaron Rodgers confirmed in June 2025 that he's been married a 'couple of months.' © New York Post 9 He's currently preparing for his first season with the Steelers. © New York Post When discussing her 2020 breakup with Rodgers on 'The Sage Steele Show' last month, Patrick alleged their 'emotionally abusive' relationship 'wore me down to nothing.' Reps for Rodgers did not immediately return Page Six's request for comment in the wake of Patrick's remarks. Rodgers is all about new beginnings these days as he enters his first season with the Steelers. 9 Aaron Rodgers wore his wedding band during a Steelers practice on June 11, 2025. Getty Images 9 He spent the past two seasons with the Jets. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post The Super Bowl-winning quarterback spent the past two seasons with the Jets after spending the first 18 years of his career with the Packers. Although Rodgers' Jets tenure never quite took off, he appeared in all 17 regular-season games last year, throwing for 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Rodgers is expected to appear on 'The Pat McAfee Show' on Tuesday. He last appeared on the ESPN program in April when he unloaded on his former Jets team. The Steelers open the season on the road against the Jets in Week 1.
