Sage Steele says Barbara Walters ‘tried to beat me up’ on ‘The View’

Sports activities broadcaster Sage Steele is opening up about an alleged bodily altercation with the late Barbara Walters.

Steele, who announced her departure from ESPN earlier this week after she “efficiently settled” a lawsuit against the company over an alleged violation of her free-speech rights, claimed that Walters “tried to beat me up” on the set of “The View,” the ABC daytime discuss present created by Walters.

“It was Barbara (Walters), Whoopi (Goldberg) and myself at midnight inexperienced room off to the aspect,” Steele stated throughout an look on “The Megyn Kelly Show” on Thursday. “(Walters) simply began to again up towards me and checked out me and received shut and elbowed me, and it pushed me again into the wall and the trash can. I used to be like, ‘What did (she) simply do to me?”

Steele, 50, added: “This 140-year-old lady simply tried to love sort out me.'”

SAGE STEELE: Agrees to part ways with ESPN after settling lawsuit

Steele alleged the bodily altercation occurred in 2014 following a section on “The View” the place Walters challenged Steele’s biracial identification on-air and requested why she did not determine as Black, like former President Barack Obama. (Each Steele and Obama have white moms and Black fathers).

“Among the producers noticed it. Whoopi noticed it,” Steele stated in regards to the altercation with Walters. “Whoopi was like, ‘Come right here.’ She was nice. She pulled me apart in her little space and he or she’s like, ‘Don’t you let her do it.’ And I’m like, ‘Am I in a film proper now?’ One of many legends on this business simply tried to beat me up!”

ABC and “The View” did not instantly return USA TODAY Sports activities’ request for remark.

Steele additionally made feedback about Obama’s racial identification on “Uncut with Jay Cutler” podcast in 2021, saying it was “fascinating” he recognized as Black despite the fact that his “Black dad was nowhere to be discovered.” She additionally criticized ESPN’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and the way some ladies gown.

Steele was subsequently positioned on paid go away following her feedback and later filed a lawsuit towards ESPN and mum or dad firm Disney for violating her free-speech rights below the First Modification.