Former ESPN anchor and host Sage Steele has revealed that her 2021 interview with President Joe Biden was heavily scripted by higher-ups at the network.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Steele disclosed that her conversation with Biden, conducted ahead of MLB Opening Day in 2021, was tightly controlled. She explained, “That was an interesting experience in its own right because it was so structured… Every single question was scripted, gone over dozens of times by many editors and executives.” Steele emphasized that she was instructed to adhere strictly to the prepared script without deviation, with no room for follow-up questions.
According to Steele, the scripting process extended to the highest levels of ESPN’s leadership, involving top executives and decision-makers, including the president and CEO of the company.
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Steele had previously expressed disappointment with her interview with Biden, describing it as “heartbreaking” during an appearance on Bill Maher’s “Club Ransom” podcast. She remarked on Biden’s apparent struggle throughout the interview, suggesting that it reflected broader concerns about his fitness for office.
Steele’s tenure at ESPN came to an end in August 2023 following a lawsuit against the company, which was subsequently settled. Recently, she launched her own podcast titled “The Sage Steele Show,” signaling a new chapter in her broadcasting career.
