‘A Smear Job’: ESPN’s Smith Blames ‘Liberals’ for Black Journo Association’s Thumbs-Down Rebuke

Calling it a “smear job” enacted by “a bunch of liberals coming after me,” sports and political commentator Stephen A. Smith denounced the “Thumbs Down” recognition he received from the National Association of Black Journalists during its convention last week at Atlanta.Mr. Smith, a longtime member of NABJ, and the host of ESPN’s First Take, took to his YouTube channel on Monday to respond to the organization’s accusations of “a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent black women across politics, sports and media.”The narrator of an accompanying video said, “Such commentary reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ’s longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of black communities.”Mr. Smith said he was “blindsided” by the accusations from the organization of more than 4,000 black journalists, or more specifically, its board of directors. “I’ve received a lot of insults in my day,” Mr. Smith said. “That might be the lowest.”While the Salute to Excellence ceremony is primarily reserved for celebrating journalistic achievements and milestones, the unflattering “Thumbs Down” segment recognizes entities or individuals deemed to harm black journalists, weaken newsroom equity or compromise editorial integrity. Other recipients for the dishonor Saturday night included the Washington Post, CBS News, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.Mr. Smith did not attend the convention this year, but the past two years had his show “First Take” broadcast live from convention sites in Chicago and Cleveland. “I was there not just to do the show,” he said, “but I stood in the booth for over an hour at the (career fair) and I mentored young aspiring black journalists, something I’ve done for decades.”He mentioned his upcoming induction into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame and his work to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He also highlighted his personal accomplishments starting as a general sports columnist at Philadelphia before becoming one of America’s top voices in sports.“I have all of this, but I’m getting a thumbs down award,” he said. “Really?”The roast is particularly biting as Mr. Smith has been a fixture within the National Association of Black Journalists since long before he became a sports media titan. The former newspaper columnist has remained a dedicated supporter and attendee of the annual NABJ Convention even after his contract with ESPN reached eight figures.The black journalists’ leadership offered no specific examples of Mr. Smith’s negative commentary. However, his recent foray into political punditry includes controversial exchanges with high-profile black women. He recently drew backlash for accusing Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat, of “engaging in verbiage and rhetoric for the streets” — a comment for which he later apologized. He also engaged in a public dispute with former ESPN colleague Cari Champion, telling her she should be “ashamed of yourself” after she referenced his past ESPN suspension following his 2014 comments on the Ray Rice domestic violence case.Mr. Smith said the rebuke by the journalists association was “a personal hit job,” that was motivated by his venture into political commentary that some suggest leans toward the right. “It’s about a bunch of liberals coming after me,” said Mr. Smith, who describes himself as a registered independent. “I guess I should be flattered.”What seemed to bother Mr. Smith the most was the notion that he disparages black women. Calling it, “a flat-out lie,” he said he has two daughters, four older sisters, and an enduring reverence for his mother who passed away in 2017.“Everything I am, everything I’ve achieved, everything that has uplifted me in my life has been associated with black women,” he said. “Black women have been my strength, my source of inspiration, and so much more for my entire life.”He chronicled the number of black women on his support staff from producers to accountants and lawyers. He pointed the finger at the association’s board of directors, headed by President Errin Haines, calling it “a journalism organization that didn’t engage in journalism when it came to criticizing me,” and wondered why no one called before publicly shaming him.“If you feel that adamant about it, why didn’t I ever get a call,” he said. “Why didn’t NABJ call me to have a conversation?” Mr. Smith added he invited Ms. Harris to appear on his YouTube channel to discuss the issue, but was told she would rather “have a private off the air conversation first,” which he viewed as hypocritical.“You can use a public platform to denigrate me and make accusations without calling, but when I ask you to come on and discuss this publicly, now you want a private conversation,” he said. “I will never speak to her because the deed is done.”He ended the 47-minute video by saying he would continue to support NABJ and aspiring journalists. “This was a smear job,” he said. “But it won’t stop me from listening and learning and striving to get better and be better. I’m going to continue what I’m doing.”

‘A Smear Job’: ESPN’s Smith Blames ‘Liberals’ for Black Journo Association’s Thumbs-Down Rebuke

‘A Smear Job’: ESPN’s Smith Blames ‘Liberals’ for Black Journo Association’s Thumbs-Down Rebuke

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