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Stephen A. Smith’s latest on-air slip — telling colleague Chiney Ogwumike that her French “kinda turned me on” during an ESPN segment — has predictably blown up into another viral embarrassment for the network. Viewers across the spectrum found the remark awkward and unprofessional, and many in the Black community have openly questioned whether his brand of theatrical commentary still represents their interests.
This isn’t an isolated misstep; it’s part of a pattern of attention-seeking theatrics that have turned longtime viewers against him before, from sham campaigns for MVP candidates to incessant grandstanding that feels engineered for clicks rather than substance. Hardworking Americans who want honest sports and cultural commentary are tired of networks prioritizing personality stunts over accountability and context.
Some will defend Stephen A. as simply being colorful, but when that “color” slides into clumsy flirting or bizarre declarations about what he wants from women, it undermines any claim to credibility he once had. The louder his persona gets, the more it exposes a disconnect between elite media figures and the values of everyday people who value respect, decency, and clarity in public discourse.
The predictable scramble of celebrity defenders only proves the point: the media ecosystem protects its own and debates substance only as long as it fuels engagement. Even when high-profile names rush to his defense, ordinary viewers recognize the hollow optics — a network that applauds spectacle while pretending it’s journalism is failing the public it purports to serve.
Black Americans deserve better than to be represented by performative gatekeepers who oscillate between pandering to corporate interests and playing culture-war hero for ratings. Real leaders in the community build institutions, promote self-reliance, and stand up for truthful accountability, not cheap theatrics that generate likes and then fade into the next outrage cycle.
It’s time for viewers — especially those in the Black community who’ve had enough — to stop rewarding networks that monetize division and demand programming that reflects principles, not personality. If ESPN and similar outlets want to survive, they must choose credibility over chaos and put substance back into the public square before hardworking Americans turn the channel for good.
