ESPN is no stranger to controversy from Jemele Hill to Maria Taylor to Rachel Nichols and now, Sage Steele. The television anchor made some comments that raised eyebrows.  

RELATED: Maria Taylor Leaving ESPN After Rachel Nichols ‘Diversity’ Comments

Steele was highly critical of ESPN’s new mandate requiring their employees to be vaccinated even though she got vaccinated. 

“I respect everyone’s decision, I really do, but to mandate it is sick and it’s scary to me in many ways. But I have a job, a job that I love and frankly a job that I need,” she said. “I’m not surprised it got to this point, especially with Disney, I mean a global company like that.” 

RELATED: Can employers make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory?

Steele was compared to Conservative activist and political commentator Candace Owens, who is known for making controversial comments such as criticizing Black Lives Matter and the NAACP. 

Then, the ESPN host went after former President Barack Obama regarding his racial identity. She identifies herself as biracial and was intrigued that Obama checked on the census form that he was Black, even though he had a Black father and a white mother. 

RELATED: Obama Joins NBA Africa as Partner and Minority Owner

“Well congratulations to the president, that’s his thing. I think that’s fascinating considering that his Black dad was nowhere to be found, but his white mom and grandma raised him, but hey, you do you, I’m gonna do me,” Steele said. 

Steele has worked at ESPN since 2007 and has a reputation for calling out athletes for speaking up on social issues. Additionally, she has said the worst racism she has ever faced came from Black people.