Folks on social media are speculating over ESPN’s surprising decision to fire Sam Ponder this Thursday.
The Worldwide Leader in Sports has made some huge changes ahead of the upcoming 2024 NFL season, firing both Ponder and Robert Griffin III. And, certain people reckon they know exactly why the former was let go.
While reports indicate that the firings were money-related, social media reckons they have everything to do with Ponder being the only woman at ESPN to advocate for keeping men out of women’s sports.
Check out these posts:
So ESPN fires @samponder, the only woman at the network who was publicly said men don’t belong in women’s sports. 3 weeks before football season?
Sam is one of the most beautiful, genuine women I’ve ever met along with @sagesteele who had a similar fate….not a coincidence. pic.twitter.com/igeC87UOnK
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 15, 2024
ESPN has fired Sam Ponder.
She was the only woman at ESPN to speak out forcefully against men competing in women’s sports.
ESPN cited “budget cuts” pic.twitter.com/1tSQmuho8F
— OutKick (@Outkick) August 15, 2024
The posts have generated quite the discussion online.
“Not a coincidence at all!” one user agreed.
“Pathetic… The woke media just got woker,” another wrote.
“It’s why ESPN is failing,” someone suggested
“ESPN’s mega ownership is Disney and that’s all we need to know. It’s shameful,” another comment read.
“She’s also a Christian who has talked about her faith before. David Pollack talked about the same thing and he was fired before last season,” someone suggested.
“@espn has officially gone woke. It’s time to turn them off” someone else urged.
“Woke ESPN. First Sage Steele and now Sam Ponder. Both highly talented on screen assets, but they didn’t toe the line for the woke agenda,” another user wrote.
Sam Ponder Leaves ESPN After Nearly Two Decades In The Business
Sam Ponder is a journalism veteran of 18 years and held various roles with ESPN during her time there, having gotten hired in 2011 following stints at other networks. Most recently, she worked as the host of ‘Sunday NFL Countdown.”
It is still unclear who will replace her on the ESPN morning show, which has its next episode scheduled to air in just 24 days.
RGIII, on the other hand, has already been replaced on ‘Monday Night Countdown,’ with the network bringing Jason Kelce in following his retirement from football at the end of last season.
