ESPN
Things got a bit awkward on Friday’s edition of ESPN’s ‘First Take.”
During a segment breaking down the Nuggets-Jazz playoff series, NBA analyst Chiney Ogwumike began speaking French while praising Rudy Gobert for his defense on Nikola Jokic.
After Ogwumike’s analysis, Smith bizarrely said that his co-host’s French accent turned him on.
“I’ve never dated a woman from France, but after hearing Chiney (speak French), I was like, what have I been missing? That verbiage right there, that kinda turned me on.”
“I’ve never dated a woman from France, but after hearing Chiney (speak French), I was like, what have I been missing? That verbiage right there, that kinda turned me on” – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/El3FBGFaTD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 24, 2026
Smith was blasted on social media for his bizarre comment.
“Unbelievable that this guy still gets airtime from ESPN, he doesn’t add anything to sports, he doesn’t even watch what he comments on, and now he’s out here harassing a married woman live on air,” commented one fan.
“@espn this is textbook sexual harassment. SAS very comfortable pausing the show to declare his cohost turned him on sexually,” said another fan
Smith has a long history of making off-the-cuff comments on-air directed at his female co-hosts, especially Molly Qerim.
It’s highly unlikely that Smith gets punished by ESPN over his comments.