And here’s what NABJ said about Stephen A, according to #RichardPrince’s account:
https://www.contrabandcamp.com/p/why-the-national-association-of-black
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https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcIJWIUJXh1
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FROM AI:
JASMINE CROCKETT
Stephen A. Smith criticized U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett’s political style, questioning if her fiery rhetoric and use of “street verbiage” against Donald Trump actually helped her constituents, before later issuing an apology after facing severe public backlash.
The Original Comments
Smith questioned on his program whether cussing out or opposing Donald Trump counts as “work,” arguing that politicians should focus on working with those in power to get things done for their district.He specifically critiqued how Crockett chooses to express herself, describing some of her communication as “street verbiage” that he doubted would be effective in legislative negotiations.
His remarks drew swift, widespread backlash from viewers, public figures, and media personalities who accused him of using coded language to police the tone and demeanor of Black women in politics.
JOY REID
The public feud between Stephen A. Smith and Joy Reid erupted when Smith blamed Reid’s departure from MSNBC on low ratings. Reid fired back on a podcast, accusing Smith of being paid massive sums by white-dominated media structures to criticize and denigrate Black women for entertainment. Smith hit back, calling the accusations baseless and stating that his critics should be “ashamed”.
Key Dimensions of the Feud
The Spark: Stephen A. Smith discussed Joy Reid’s exit from MSNBC on his show, citing a drop in her viewership numbers and claiming “the numbers don’t lie.”
Reid’s Response: Reid appeared on Naked Sports with Cari Champion and dismissed Smith’s focus on ratings, comparing his compensation to his audience size and alleging he profits by acting as a mouthpiece to say “nasty things about Black people”
Escalation: Smith dedicated segments of his digital platform to push back against Reid and other media figures like Don Lemon, accusing them of a coordinated effort to get him fired or canceled by invoking his association with ESPN and Disney.
Broader Context: The spat widened as part of a larger ongoing debate regarding Smith’s political commentary, his critiques of figures like Representative Jasmine Crockett, and accusations from media peers that he disproportionately targets prominent Black women.
SERENA WILLIAMS
On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith criticized Serena Williams for doing a Crip-walk cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, which featured the Drake diss track “Not Like Us”.
Because Williams and Drake previously dated, Smith claimed she was publicly “trolling” her ex. He remarked that if he were married to her, he would question why she was doing so and told her to “go back to his ass”.
After receiving heavy social media backlash, Smith defended his remarks on The Stephen A. Smith Show and social media, stating he was just “joking around” from a “man’s perspective” and that people were taking it too seriously. Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, later addressed the situation and playfully confronted Smith on air regarding the comments. Serena herself later responded, calling her husband’s handling of it eloquent and noting she thought the whole thing was hilarious.
KAMALA HARRIS
Stephen A. Smith stated that he regrets voting for former Vice President Kamala Harris, feeling like a “damn fool” for supporting her. He criticized her post-election book and media behavior, arguing that she came across as leaderless during her campaign and only became outspoken later to sell books.
Voter Regret and Political Critique
Feeling Misled: Smith mentioned on The Sage Steele Show that he initially voted for Harris to prevent single-party chaos, but now feels he and others “fell for it” and ended up feeling like fools.
Book Backlash: He slammed Harris’s post-election memoir and “I told you so” remarks, arguing she was too quiet and protective of Joe Biden during the race only to become candid later for profit.
Political Future: Smith declared that her political career is effectively over, stating that the Democratic Party is unlikely to back her moving forward.
Past Campaign Criticism
Avoiding Interviews: During the 2024 campaign, Smith criticized Harris for sticking strictly to pep rallies and ducking formal press conferences or sit-down interviews.
Tied to Biden’s Record: He argued it was entirely fair for the public and the media to press her on the administration’s record, since she had actively claimed ownership of it.
MICHELLE OBAMA
Stephen A. Smith called out Michelle Obama after she compared ESPN to The Real Housewives of Atlanta and labeled him “just like every other talk show host”. Smith expressed offense at her 2024 campaign rhetoric implying a vote for Donald Trump was a vote against women, though he still praised her as a historic First Lady.
The Podcast Exchange and Pushback
Michelle Obama’s Critique: On her podcast IMO, Michelle Obama stated that listening to ESPN for an hour felt like watching reality TV drama with people yelling and not getting along, singling out Smith.
Smith’s Response: On The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith defended ESPN’s on-air chemistry and success, stating he took “major offense” to her campaign messaging that attempted to emotionally compel voters by framing a vote for Trump as an anti-woman stance.
Broader Context: Smith argued that voters weighed other critical factors like the economy, immigration, and national security ahead of single issues, while maintaining that Obama remains one of the greatest First Ladies.
Drums in the Global Village 