Sports broadcaster Sage Steele ignited a firestorm on social media after posting a tweet late Wednesday night that compared the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk to the 2020 killing of George Floyd.
In her post, Steele directly addressed major professional sports leagues, calling on them to release public statements and condolences for Kirk’s family, whom she claimed had lost him because he was “murdered for his political beliefs.”
The tweet, which tagged the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, and NHL, quickly went viral, amassing over 125,000 likes and thousands of replies within hours.
The most incendiary part of Steele’s tweet was her reference to George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020 sparked nationwide protests and a global reckoning on race and policing. By labeling Floyd a “career criminal” while contrasting him with Kirk, Steele appeared to diminish the impact of Floyd’s death and the movement that followed.
The tweet comes amid unverified claims circulating online about Kirk’s alleged killing, though no official reports have confirmed the circumstances surrounding his death. Many users criticized Steele for spreading misinformation and for politicizing the tragedies of both men.
Reaction to Steele’s tweet has been swift and polarized. Supporters praised her for “speaking the truth” and challenging what they see as hypocrisy from sports organizations that often issue statements on social justice matters. Critics, however, condemned her remarks as insensitive, misleading, and inflammatory.
Several prominent sports journalists and commentators pushed back on Steele’s framing, calling it “reckless” and accusing her of “using tragedy to score political points.” Others noted that her comments could damage her credibility within the sports media industry, where she has already had a history of controversy regarding political and social issues.
This is not the first time Sage Steele has drawn attention for provocative statements. The former ESPN anchor has previously made headlines for criticizing vaccine mandates, questioning the handling of race discussions in sports media, and sharing politically charged opinions that diverged from many of her colleagues.
Her latest tweet has reignited debates about the role of sports figures and broadcasters in political discourse, and whether lines should be drawn when discussing sensitive social justice issues.
As of now, neither Steele nor any of the leagues she tagged have issued follow-up comments regarding the post. The situation is still developing, particularly as questions remain about the truthfulness of claims regarding Charlie Kirk.
What is clear is that Steele’s tweet has once again positioned her at the center of a cultural and political flashpoint—one that intertwines the worlds of sports, media, and national debate over race and politics.
