ESPN star Stephen A. Smith has reignited a firestorm in media and political commentary, pushing back vehemently against accusations of misogyny leveled by former colleagues and liberal commentators. The controversy erupted after Smith criticized Black Democratic figures, most recently Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), leading critics to claim he unfairly targets Black women.
In a heated, on-air defense, Smith argued that the backlash isn’t about gender or race—it’s about ideology and his refusal to unconditionally align with the Democratic Party.
The Spark: Critique and Condemnation
The core controversy originated when Smith criticized Rep. Crockett for her “flamboyant congressional style,” prompting swift and intense condemnation. Critics, including former ESPN colleague Cari Champion, accused Smith of a pattern of attacking Black women while allegedly giving others a pass.
- Cari Champion’s Critique: Champion publicly questioned Smith’s consistency, pointing to his controversial 2014 comments on the Ray Rice domestic violence case and asking if he brings the “same smoke” to non-Black or conservative figures.
- The Defense: Smith fired back emphatically, denying any personal animus and even highlighting his support for Champion’s career, asserting she was “hired in large part because of me” at First Take, claiming he advocated for diversifying the show’s guest lineup after Skip Bayless’s departure. He also dismissed attacks from former co-host Michelle Beadle, calling them baseless and stemming from old tensions.
The Core Argument: Ideology Over Identity
At the heart of Smith’s passionate defense is a pointed rejection of the narrative that Black men cannot critique Black women without being labeled misogynists.
“Can we disagree with a sister from time to time?” he asked rhetorically. “If you’re a Black man, you cannot disagree with a liberal Black woman… then you hate Black women, you hate your mama, you hate your sister.”
Smith insisted the outrage is selective. He challenged his critics to examine their own consistency: “If it were Candace Owens instead of Jasmine Crockett… what would you have said?” He extended the hypothetical to other conservative Black women like Winsome Earle-Sears (Virginia Lieutenant Governor) or former ESPN host Sage Steele, predicting “silence” from the same critics.
“This is about politics, ideology,” Smith declared. “You expect me as a Black man to stand firm supporting the Democratic Party?”
Data Point: Partisan Pushback vs. Voting Record
Despite his fiery rhetoric against the progressive left, Smith emphasized his actual voting record shows a history of supporting Democrats, including voting for Barack Obama twice, Bill Clinton, and Kamala Harris.
However, he firmly refused to be a partisan mouthpiece. Referencing historical Democratic policies like the 1994 crime bill’s controversial impact on Black incarceration rates, he warned against blind loyalty, concluding: “Bump that. I’m not doing it.”
The drama underscores broader tensions: Black public figures with platforms face intense scrutiny for any deviation from progressive orthodoxy, especially when critiquing Democratic allies. While Smith’s defenders see his stance as principled independence, the controversy highlights the high stakes of intra-community debate in a polarized era.