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In the wake of ESPN’s recent layoffs, renowned sports journalist Stephen A. Smith has expressed concerns that he may be the next to be let go by the sports media giant.
Smith, who hosts “The Stephen A. Smith Show” podcast, addressed the issue on his latest episode, acknowledging the departures of several friends and former colleagues from ESPN.
Speaking candidly about the situation, Smith said: “This ain’t the end. More is coming,”, “And yes, ladies and gentlemen, I could be next.”
He also stated, “Don’t ever, ever, ever in your life as a Black person take anything for granted. I told you before, when white folks catch a cold, Black folks catch pneumonia.”
Smith attributed the recent round of layoffs to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent closure of Disney’s theme parks.
He characterized the situation as a numbers game, in which ESPN had to make tough decisions to mitigate revenue losses.
Despite the speculation surrounding his future at ESPN, it seems unlikely that the network would consider letting go of Stephen A. Smith. Currently earning $12 million annually, his contract, which runs until 2025, is considered a “bargain” compared to other contracts held by ESPN personalities.
In response to his detractors, Smith took the opportunity to address his critics directly. Refusing to let the negativity affect him, he asserted, “Y’all can kiss my a–. Twice.”
A quick message to the haters out there pic.twitter.com/17txXHouv0
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 5, 2023
He also called out individuals within the industry who questioned his continued presence at ESPN while ignoring higher-paid colleagues who lacked the same level of success and viewership, noting that none of them were Black.
Smith directed his remarks towards media critics and those in the blogosphere and online community who harbored ill feelings towards him.