Former ESPN Host Sam Ponder Attributes Dismissal to Transgender Athlete Views

Sam Ponder, who was fired by ESPN in August 2024 after more than 13 years with the network, has spoken out about her departure, linking it to her outspoken views on biological men competing in women's sports. Ponder said ESPN privately agreed with her on the issue but was pressured by a vocal activist group within Disney who were unhappy with her social media posts, including a controversial tweet about Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, who was accused of competing as a transgender athlete. While ESPN officially cited budget cuts for her dismissal, Ponder believes the timing of her firing was heavily influenced by her stance on transgender athletes and her unwillingness to expand her role or adjust her work schedule. Despite feeling the reasons behind her exit were "legit crazy" and "ridiculous," Ponder expressed no bitterness, reflecting positively on her two decades in the industry and feeling grateful for the experience. She also revealed that management had expressed discomfort with her social media activity before her firing and that she had retweeted content critical of transgender athletes, which escalated tensions. Ponder's case highlights ongoing debates over transgender inclusion in sports and the tensions between corporate policies and activist pressures within media companies.