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Samantha Ponder has been silent on her shot from ESPN, until now.
Ponder had expressed about transgender athletes in women’s sports on social networks in 2023, which said it caused a warning of ESPN executives.
Ponder told Sage Steele in the podcast of the latter who shared the “story” of Paula Scanlan about swimming against Lia Thomas, but then, “one of the chiefs above, superior and superior” communicated with both former ESPN employees.
“I really didn’t think it was a great answer, but he did,” said Ponder. “They felt uncomfortable with me talking about trans women in the sports problem of women and who were not going to allow me to golden people.”
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Samantha Ponder recently broke his silence for being fired from ESPN. (David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media through Getty Images)
Ponder then said he received a “detailed email” from the executives who described “anything that has tweeted or favorite who thought it was offensive and warned me.”
“I knew I was on the clock, if you want,” Ponder said.
Ponder had been silent until last summer, even opting not to make a video about Riley Gaines when an ESPN initiative was that his employees recorded a video about an inspiring woman.
That is, until Imane Khelif caught his attention.
Ponder had shared the quotes of his Olympic opponent Angela Carini about having “enough” from Khelif in the ring. Khelif was previously prohibited from competing in another boxing tournament due to failed gender eligibility tests.
“Enough is what we should all say! Proud of this woman,” he reflects Posted at that time.
“And the following week, he received a text message that said: ‘Can you jump in a call with this person and this person in an hour’? And one of the bosses is someone I never listened to, and I thought: ‘This is all,” Ponder said.
Imane Khelif of the Algeria team celebrates the victory against Anna Luca Hamori of the Hungary team after the match of the quarterfinals of 66 kg of 66 kg on day eight of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in North Paris Arena on August 3, 2024 in Paris, France. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
The Olympic medalist dies in a tragic ray during the trip
Ponder said he believes that other factors led to his eventual shot, including cheaper potential alternatives, while Ponder said he wanted to have a balance between work and life with his family.
“But the almost certain moment was,” said Ponder, who revealed that the best ESPN executives really agreed with her on the subject.
Ponder then said that being left was “one of the best things that have happened to me.”
“I was in that hamster wheel, and I wasn’t going to jump on my own. I needed to be expelled. As much as the part of the reasoning behind her, I think it is a legitimate madness, I feel that there is no bitterness or even sadness. More brave when I knew what was fine,” Ponder said.
Ponder questioned why it was essentially forbidden to discuss the issue.
Samantha reflects on ESPN prepares to go on stage at the ESPNW summit held at Resort in 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 sports, “Ponder continued.” We are talking about female university athletes, Olympic athletes, and it is wrong to shine in that and give another voice, another opinion. It was not against the debate or the healthy discussion. I just didn’t want anyone to tell me: ‘No, no, no, you can’t talk about it.’ I was not really giving my own opinions about it, as much as I said: ‘Listen to these girls, they are in the changing rooms. Why don’t your opinions deserve a platform when we are giving prizes for the month of the history of women to someone born in men? I couldn’t understand it, I still don’t understand. “
ESPN declined to comment.
Ponder is married to former NFL field marshal, Christian Ponder.
