Overview

• Ponder revealed in her first public comments since her August 2024 firing that she believes timing of her outspoken opposition to transgender women in female sports was a key factor in ESPN’s decision.
• She recounted receiving a private warning from ESPN executives after she favorited a controversial tweet by Megyn Kelly before later tweeting "XY= male XX= female" in response to the IOC’s decision on Imane Khelif.
• ESPN officially cited budget constraints and an underutilized contract worth over $1 million a year for her limited schedule on ay NFL NFL Countdown as grounds for dismissal.
• Sources say under chairman Jimmy Pitaro’s mandate, top-paid talents are expected to work beyond a single annual gig, a requirement Ponder declined to meet due to family commitments.
• Ponder described how internal pressures from activist groups at Disney and past disapproval over her 2017 promotion also contributed to her being viewed as expendable.