Fans of Michael Sam were disappointed earlier this year when news spread that his planned documentary with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network had been postponed. But now it’s been revealed that the documentary will now see the light of day and will premiere this month.
As previously reported, back in May, Own announced that they were planning a multipart documentary that would chronicle Sam’s life after being drafted by the St. Louis Rams and rise as the NFL’s first openly gay player.
However, the Rams claimed the documentary was a “distraction,” and just two days after the announcement was made, OWN revealed that they were postponing the docuseries.
However, now that Sam has been cut by both the Rams and the Dallas Cowboys, who cut Sam from their practice squad in October, Sam’s documentary has been revived as a one-part, 90-minute documentary that will now premiere Saturday, Dec. 27 at 9 p.m. ET.
According to OWN, the documentary will focus on “when Michael was drafted by the St. Louis Rams, the intense media scrutiny that immediately followed, and Michael’s struggle to stay focused despite the pressure and chaos. Additionally, the documentary explores Michael’s relationship with his boyfriend Vito and the challenge of balancing his personal life alongside his pursuit of NFL stardom.”
OWN president Erik Logan also released a statement about the documentary.
“Michael Sam is breaking down boundaries and showing the world what it means to be authentic to who you are no matter what the circumstance. That’s a central theme with the documentary and we hope it continues an important discussion. Michael is an inspiration to millions and we are proud to be able to share his courageous story — in his own words — with our audience,” said Logan.
After the documentary airs, Sam will speak in-depth for the first time since his Cowboys’ cut with Winfrey for a new episode of “Oprah Prime.”
Well, we can’t wait to see the documentary and hear what Sam has to say about his derailed NFL career and his life as a gay sports icon. – nicholas robinson
