Stephen A. Smith
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Stephen A. Smith had plenty to say about the mass layoffs at his employer ESPN last week on his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show.
Sports fans were following the massive layoffs that saw ESPN lay off about 20 on-air personalities on Twitter, like following Adrian Wojnarawski’s timeline during the beginning of NBA free agency.
On the latest episode of his show, the Disney-owned sports network’s workhorse, Stephen A. Smith spoke about long-time on-air talents like Jalen Rose, Neil Everett, and more being let go.
He gave a shoutout to Rose, who he worked alongside during NBA Countdown and numerous appearances on his weekly sports debate show, First Take, and former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy.
Per Deadline:
“ESPN laid off about 20 members of its on-air talent … friends of mine, actually, definitely respected colleagues who’d done a phenomenal job and deserved better,” the sports analyst said on The Stephen A. Smith Show. “It’s not Disney or ESPN that they deserved better from. They deserved better than the times we’re living in.”
“Got a lot of love for that brother,” he added. “A lot of the great work he’s done over the years, what he’s represented for the company… I’m going to miss him. Jalen Rose has always been good to me, and I loved working with him on NBA Countdown. He is a brilliant basketball mind. He is somebody that worked his ass off all the time. There was never an assignment he backed away from. There was never a time he didn’t want to work.”
Smith also name-dropped former NBA coach and ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy saying, “Jeff was an outstanding, brilliant basketball analyst for ESPN for years. I could say I’m gonna miss him, but I just can’t imagine he’s gonna be out of work for long. I’m sure I’ll see him on-air doing his thing. He’s been a Hall of Fame analyst and commentator.”
Stephen A. Smith Says ESPN Is Not Done & He Could Be Next
After talking about his former colleagues, Smith hinted at more possible layoffs coming, even suggesting that he could be next on the chopping block.
“If we’re going to be real about it, let’s deal with reality. This ain’t the end. More is coming,” Smith said. “And yes, ladies and gentlemen, I could be next.”
Interestingly, we do think it’s unlikely that ESPN would let go of one of its most popular personalities, joining his former First Take co-host Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson, Matt Hasselbeck, Chris Chelios, Steve Young, Rob Ninkovich, Neil Everett, Ashley Brewer, Joon Lee, LaPhonso Ellis, Todd McShay, and Jason Fitz.
You can watch the entire episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show below.
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Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty
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Stephen A. Smith is one of the most notable sports pundits in modern times but he largely isn’t thought of as someone who offers opinions on politicians. However, the veteran ESPN host made a statement that he doesn’t think Donald Trump is racist but says he’d stop short of voting for him should he become a presidential candidate again.
Stephen A. Smith recently appeared at the Semafor Media Summit on Monday (April 10) and spoke about a variety of topics during the chat. Smith shared that he and Trump used to have a friendship that involved the pair talking about sports before the business mogul’s presidency. However, Smith says that while he no longer speaks with Trump, he doesn’t believe his old associate has racist tendencies.
“I think he’s changed, but I will tell you this: I think when people call him racist and stuff like that, I’ve never thought of Trump that way. He’s not against black people, he’s against all things not named Trump,” Smith said.
Smith went on to add that while he shares conservative political views and isn’t above voting for a Republican Party candidate, he would withhold his vote from Trump.
Check out a portion of Stephen A. Smith speaking at the Semafor Media Summit below.
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Source: Eric Espada / Getty
Now, we all know that famed sports commentator Stephen A. Smith has a big mouth—big enough for him to occasionally stick his entire foot in it while using his other foot to walk things back a bit. Also, Smith is pretty old. So old, possibly, that he’s a little too detached from the popular music scene to understand that Rihanna arguably has as big of a “hive” as the Queen Bee herself, Beyoncé. (Can the “Rih-hive” be a thing, or is that a little too on the nose?)
From TMZ Sports:
Stephen A. Smith had a BOLD take this week, but it wasn’t about whether Dak Prescott is elite … it was his reaction to Rihanna performing the Super Bowl halftime show — simply saying, “she ain’t Beyoncé.”
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The ESPN personality made the comment during his appearance on “The Sherri Show” Wednesday … claiming it’s no shade to RiRi, but will most certainly come across that way with the singer’s diehard fanbase.
“Rihanna’s music is fantastic,” SAS said during the interview. “She’s great. She’s a sister. I love her dearly, I listen to her music, I’m gonna support her ’til the cows come home.”
“I’m just telling you, for me, there’s Beyoncé and there’s everybody else. Just like there’s Michael Jackson and there’s everybody else.”
Smith says he isn’t NOT excited to see Rihanna do her thing … but makes it clear there’s only room for one at the top.
In the immortal words of Jill Scott: “Or maybe we can just be silent!” Sometimes I feel like Smith just enjoys getting himself dragged up and down by Black Twitter.
I mean what did Smith think, that the Beyhive would be any happier with him than Rihanna’s Navy while he’s arbitrarily pitting two beloved Black woman pop sensations against each other?
Anyway, in a rare humbling moment for the loud and proud sports journalist, Smith recorded a video apologizing to Rihanna for perceivably disrespecting her.
More from TMZ:
“I want Rihanna to know you’re a superstar, you’re sensational, you’re spectacular. You’re no joke and you are a worthy person to be doing Super Bowl halftime show,” Smith said on Wednesday.
Stephen A. clarified his words … saying he personally believes Beyoncé’s performance was so iconic, that anyone who gets the opportunity to do the halftime show will “have to measure up to that.”
“I meant it as no disrespect to Rihanna. I know she’s phenomenal and she’s my sister. Nothing but love for her, but Beyoncé is my sister, too.”
Stephen A. ends his apology by saying he knows Rihanna will do her thing next month … and he’s looking forward to watching her perform.
Of course, some on Twitter pointed out that while Smith can often be a bit of a jerk, he’s not usually an apologetic negro.
https://twitter.com/coxthaone/status/1616171399831515137
Welp, you can’t please everyone.
However, in Smith’s case, it’s OK to just STFU once in a while.