Sage Steele, a former ESPN anchor, is suing the talent and sports agency that represented her, Creative Artist Agency (CAA). Steele was unhappy with how CAA handled her dispute with ESPN, which resulted in her suspension. She filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging that CAA breached its fiduciary duty. Steele had previously sued ESPN after claiming she was suspended in retaliation for criticizing Disney’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on a podcast. Following a settlement with ESPN, Steele left the company after 16 years to exercise her First Amendment rights more freely.
The lawsuit centers around Matthew Kramer, CAA’s co-head of sports media, who Steele claims neglected to ensure she would not have to apologize for her comments about Disney’s vaccination policy. Steele alleges she was misled into thinking a senior member of CAA’s legal team reviewed her contract in relation to the vaccine mandate, when in reality it was only reviewed by a junior attorney. The lawsuit also suggests a conflict of interest, as CAA represents other prominent ESPN personalities such as Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski, who both recently received contract extensions. Additionally, the lawsuit mentions other ESPN employees, including executives, that the agency represents.
Steele’s remarks about Disney’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on the “Uncut” podcast in September 2021 led to her suspension by ESPN, which she later challenged in court. Following a settlement with ESPN, Steele decided to leave her “dream job” after 16 years to have more freedom in expressing her views. The lawsuit against CAA alleges that the agency failed to properly advocate for Steele and navigate her contract negotiations with ESPN, leading to her departure from the network.
Steele’s lawsuit against CAA raises questions about the agency’s handling of her contract negotiations with ESPN, particularly in relation to her comments about Disney’s vaccine mandate. The lawsuit alleges that CAA did not adequately represent Steele’s interests and failed to prevent her suspension by ESPN. The conflict of interest raised by CAA’s representation of other prominent ESPN personalities also adds to the complexity of the case. Despite attempts to contact CAA for comment, the agency has not yet responded to the allegations made by Steele in her lawsuit.
Overall, Steele’s legal battle against CAA sheds light on the challenges faced by prominent sports media personalities in navigating contract negotiations and conflicts of interest within the sports industry. The lawsuit highlights the importance of strong representation and advocating for the rights of individuals, particularly when it comes to expressing personal views on controversial topics. The outcome of the lawsuit could have broader implications for how talent agencies represent their clients and handle disputes with employers in the sports media industry.
