In a new legal battle, former ESPN host Sage Steele has filed a lawsuit against Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and her agents, accusing them of breaching their fiduciary duty during her standoff with the network over COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that CAA failed to properly advocate for Steele and prioritized its own interests over hers.

Steele's lawsuit points to specific statements made by her agent, Matthew Kramer, who is also CAA's co-head of sports media. According to the complaint, Kramer neglected to demand that Steele not be required to apologize for criticizing Disney's vaccination policy. Furthermore, Steele alleges that Kramer misled her by falsely claiming that the "head of CAA legal" had reviewed her contract, when in fact, it had been examined by a junior attorney.

The dispute between Steele and ESPN began in 2021 after she expressed skepticism about private companies mandating vaccinations on a podcast with NFL quarterback Jay Cutler. Steele's comments led to public outcry, and ESPN and Disney demanded that she publicly apologize. When she refused, she was subsequently suspended. After settling a lawsuit against ESPN last year, Steele decided to leave the network.

According to Tuesday's complaint, Steele raises concerns about a conflict of interest within CAA due to its representation of other ESPN employees, including high-profile figures like Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski. She argues that CAA prioritized its own financial interests and relationships over the well-being and best interests of its clients, exemplifying what she describes as "morally corrupt ways" and "willful misconduct."

The lawsuit alleges that Kramer made no effort to advocate for Steele's repeated requests not to apologize for her comments. When questioned about whether he approached Disney to demand that she be exempt from apologizing, Kramer reportedly stated that he did not explicitly communicate that she should not have to apologize.

Steele's complaint also highlights CAA's failure to provide legal advice and support regarding the nature of her comments, asserting that they were well within her rights. Instead, the agency insisted that she comply with ESPN's demands.

In addition to her stance on vaccine mandates, Steele was reprimanded for other controversial comments she made in the past, including remarks about former President Barack Obama's racial identity and the responsibility women bear regarding sexism and sexual harassment based on their clothing choices.

This lawsuit follows actor Terrence Howard's legal action against CAA last year, alleging a conflict of interest in the agency's handling of his compensation for the television series Empire. Howard claimed that his agents prioritized their own interests and those of the show's producers, who were also represented by CAA, leading him to accept below-market salaries.

CAA has declined to comment on the lawsuit filed by Sage Steele.