ESPN analyst Sarah Spain has ignited a storm of criticism on social media following her controversial remarks about sitting near JD Vance at the Winter Olympics.

Spain, known for her contributions to espnW and appearances on ESPN shows like “Around the Horn,” made headlines after labeling the U.S. Vice President as a “demon” and “the Devil” in a recent verbal tirade.

The 45-year-old shared her experience during the women’s hockey match between the United States and Czechia on her podcast, “Good Game with Sarah Spain.”

“About twelve minutes into the first period, a wave of men in suits with earpieces flooded the area. JD Vance appeared, carrying a child and accompanied by a security entourage, followed by Marco Rubio,” Spain recounted.

“Seeing JD Vance’s face, with his eyeliner, made me feel physically ill. It was as if I had glimpsed a demon, like the Devil himself,” she continued.

“Even though I don’t typically believe in such things, my body reacted like it does when you’re startled—an unsettling tingle suggesting something is amiss,” Spain explained.

Sarah Spain sparked backlash after claiming that she felt ‘ill’ sitting next to JD Vance at the Winter Olympics

JD Vance was seen going to his seat at the women’s hockey match between the United States and Czechia on February 5

Spain’s comments sparked severe backlash on social media with some critics even claiming she should lose her job over the scathing remarks. 

‘ESPN should fire Sarah Spain for posting pictures of VP Vance’s kids. ESPN will likely do nothing,’ on furious social media user claimed on X.

‘Sarah Spain, and her ilk, are a huge reason why ESPN has tanked,’ a second shared.

‘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],’ wrote a third user. 

Conservative commentator and founder of Outkick posted: ‘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.’

‘I don’t know, Clay, I want to throw up whenever I see Sarah Spain…,’ one person replied to Travis’s post about Spain.

‘That’s over the line. No excuse for that behavior, period,’ said another, while one claimed ‘there’s a reason she’s not relevant anymore.’

Another wrote: ‘I can’t imagine being such a vile and hateful person and still be able to function, Sarah Spain. What is WRONG with you??’ 

Many social media users hit out at the sports reporter, claiming she should be fired 

The award-winning journalist is covering the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina

Spain, an Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning journalist, also claimed that the Secret Service detail was ‘blocking half the ice. We’re trying to watch a hockey game.’ 

At a later hockey game involving the US and Canada, Spain saw Vance again, but this time he was with boxer and MAGA-adjacent influencer Jake Paul.

‘[Vance] brought a little demon friend, Jake Paul. Talk about only the finest people representing America,’ she said.

She continued: ‘I was so freaking annoyed. And if I thought I was annoyed just from them being there, my simmer turned into a boil when the Italian press in front of us insisted on standing up after every single goal so that they could gawk at JD Vance and Jake Paul.’

Spain’s main gripe with Vance was how he has responded to various controversies that have arisen as a result of the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy.

Specifically, she condemned Vance’s statements about Alex Pretti, the protestor in Minneapolis who was fatally shot by US Border Patrol agents on January 24.

‘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.

Shortly after the shooting, Vance reposted a social media post from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller that described Pretti as ‘an assassin’ who ‘tried to murder federal agents’.

The Vice President has attended multiple events at the Games in Milan-Cortina

Spain also complained about seeing Vance and the controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul (left) at a subsequent women’s hockey game

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Vance refused to apologize for endorsing Miller’s statement.

‘For what?’ he said when asked if he’d apologize to Pretti’s family. 

‘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,’ Vance said. ‘I don’t think it’s smart to prejudge the investigation.’

Spain has worked for ESPN in various roles since 2010, featuring on various shows, such as ‘First Take,’ ‘Olbermann,’ ‘Mike & Mike’ and ‘The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.’ 

She also launched the first and only daily women’s sports podcast, ‘Good Game with Sarah Spain,’ in July 2024. The show was nominated for ‘Best Sports Podcast’ at the 2025 Ambies Awards for Excellence in Audio.