Sam Ponder breaks silence on ESPN firing, claims transgender views and social media activity led to silent blacklisting
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.'
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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!
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