ESPN analyst Sarah Spain faces intense backlash from fans demanding her dismissal after she labeled U.S. Vice President JD Vance a ‘demon’ and ‘the Devil’ during a podcast rant about encountering him at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
Spain’s Podcast Remarks Spark Outrage
Sarah Spain, a 45-year-old contributor to espnW and veteran of ESPN shows like ‘Around the Horn,’ shared her discomfort on her podcast ‘Good Game with Sarah Spain’ while covering the women’s hockey game between the United States and Czechia on February 5.
“Twelve minutes into the first period, that area suddenly is awash with large men in suits with earpieces. And here comes JD Vance carrying a child and a bunch of security, and eventually Marco Rubio,” Spain recounted.
She continued: “When I see JD Vance’s eyeliner face, I literally feel ill. I feel like I just looked at a demon, like the Devil. And I don’t even believe in that, but my body felt like when you’ve been spooked and you have a little tingle that feels like, ‘ooh, something’s not right.'”
Spain also criticized the Secret Service presence, noting it “blocked half the ice” during the game. At a later U.S.-Canada hockey match, she spotted Vance with boxer Jake Paul, calling Paul a “little demon friend” and complaining about the Italian press standing to gawk at them after goals.
Social Media Erupts with Calls for Firing
Social media users swiftly condemned Spain’s comments, with many calling for ESPN to terminate her employment. One X user posted: “ESPN should fire Sarah Spain for posting pictures of VP Vance’s kids. ESPN will likely do nothing.”
Another wrote: “Sarah Spain, and her ilk, are a huge reason why ESPN has tanked.” A third added: “The fact that this wannabe tough chick @SarahSpain has a gig anywhere on @espn is symbolic of how far that network has fallen. She’s a bonafide [clown emoji].”
Conservative commentator Clay Travis, founder of Outkick, remarked: “This is not how a mentally healthy or sane person responds to seeing someone they disagree with politically with their kids at a sporting event.” Replies echoed the sentiment, with one user stating: “I don’t know, Clay, I want to throw up whenever I see Sarah Spain…”
Others labeled her remarks “over the line” and questioned her relevance, while one asked: “I can’t imagine being such a vile and hateful person and still be able to function, Sarah Spain. What is WRONG with you?”
Context Behind Spain’s Criticism
Spain’s frustration ties to Vance’s response to controversies surrounding the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy, particularly his comments on Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis protester fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents on January 24 while aiding a woman.
“This human being, allegedly, with demon energy, is slandering a dead man who was shot in the back while helping a woman and was not fighting and was not dangerous,” Spain said.
Vance had reposted a statement from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller describing Pretti as “an assassin” who “tried to murder federal agents.” When asked about apologizing to Pretti’s family, Vance replied: “For what? If something is determined that the guy who shot Alex Pretti did something bad, then a lot of consequences are going to flow from that. We’ll let that happen. I don’t think it’s smart to prejudge the investigation.”
Spain’s ESPN Career
An Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning journalist, Spain has worked at ESPN since 2010, appearing on programs like ‘First Take,’ ‘Olbermann,’ ‘Mike & Mike,’ and ‘The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.’ She launched ‘Good Game with Sarah Spain,’ the first daily women’s sports podcast, in July 2024, which earned a nomination for ‘Best Sports Podcast’ at the 2025 Ambies Awards.
