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Samantha Ponder has so far been quiet about his firing from ESPN.
Ponder had been a vocals of transient athletes in women’s sports on social media back in 2023, which she said received a warning from ESPN leaders.
Ponder told Sage Steele at the latter podcast that she shared Paula Scanlan’s “story” about swimming against Lia Thomas, but then “one of the top, top, top” bosses reached out to both former ESPN employees.
“I didn’t really think it would get a lot of an answer, but it did,” Ponder said. “They were uncomfortable with talking about Trans Women in Women’s Sports Questions and that they wouldn’t allow me to mislead people.”
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Samantha Ponder recently broke his silence about being fired from ESPN. (David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Ponder then said she got a “detailed E email” from Execs describing “all I had ever tweeted or favorite that they thought were offensive and warned me.”
“I then knew I was a bit on the clock if you want to,” Ponder said.
Ponder had stopped until last summer, and even chose to make a video about Riley Gaines when an ESPN initiative was for her female staff to record a video about an inspiring woman.
That is, until Imane Khelif caught her attention.
Ponder had shared his Olympic opponent Angela Carini’s quotes about having “enough” by Khelif in the ring. Khelif was previously cut off from competing in another boxing tournament due to failed testing of gender eligibility.
“Enough is what we all have to say !! Proud of this woman,” you should consider Sent at that time.
“And the next week got a text that said, ‘Can you jump on a call with this person and this person on as an hour.’ And one of the bosses is someone I never hear from, and I was like, ‘This is,’ “Ponder said.
Imane Khelif of Team Algeria celebrates victory against Anna Luca Hamori from Team Hungary after the women’s 66 kg quarter-final round match on day eight of the Paris Olympic Games 2024 in North Paris Arena on August 3, 2024 in Paris, France. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Olympic medal dies in tragic lightning strikes while turning
Ponder said she believes other factors led to her possible firing, including potentially cheaper alternatives, while Ponder said she would have a work -life balance with her family.
“But the time of it was almost certain,” said Ponder, who revealed that the top ESPN ex -executers actually agreed with her on the question.
Ponder then said that getting slip was “one of the best things ever happened to me.”
“I was on that hamster wheel, and I wouldn’t jump off on my own. I had to get kicked off. As much as that part of the rationale behind it I think is legit, I feel no bitterness or even honest sadness. I had a great career. I was 20 years in that business. Much more brave when I knew what was right,” said Ponder.
Ponder questioned why she was essentially prevented from discussing the question.
Samantha Ponder from ESPN is preparing to go on stage at the ESPNW summit held at Resort at Pelican Hill on October 2, 2018 in Newport Beach, California. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
“You are not allowed to talk about any other problem [other than sports]. But I thought this was sport, “continued Ponder.” We are talking about female collegial athletes, Olympic athletes, and it is wrong to shine a focus on it and give another voice, a different opinion. I was not against debate or healthy discussion. I just didn’t want anyone to tell me, ‘No, no, no, you can’t talk about it.’ I didn’t really give my own opinions about it, as much as I said, ‘Listen to these girls, they are in the dressing room. Why don’t their opinions deserve a platform when we give prices for women’s history to someone born man? ‘I couldn’t understand it, I still don’t understand it. “
ESPN refused to comment.
Ponder is married to the former NFL -Quarterback, Christian Ponder.
