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Former ESPN Star Makes Accusation Against Stephen A. Smith

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 10:35 AM ET

In just the past month, Stephen A. Smith has received criticism from a pair of former ESPN employees.

Last month, SiriusXM announced a multiyear partnership with Smith. He'll have a daily show on Mad Dog Sports Radio as well as a "weekly current events, pop culture and social commentary-focused show" on a separate SiriusXM channel. Interestingly enough, his sports show will replace an afternoon timeslot that once belonged to Michelle Beadle and Cody Decker.

Beadle, who first joined ESPN in 2009, told Front Office Sports that she doesn't respect Smith.

"I don’t respect him," Beadle said. "I don’t respect his work. He doesn’t like me. This goes back to the Ray Rice stuff. He made some really piggish comments on the air. I responded; he got suspended for like two weeks. I think that was sort of the beginning of the end for anything,” she says. “I just don’t respect him. I think he gets things wrong all the time. I’m not talking about opinions; those can never be wrong. But factually, when you spread yourself so thin, it’s hard to be right. Not a fan."

Beadle isn't the only former ESPN host willing to call out Smith's character.

On the latest episode of his YouTube show, Marcellus Wiley said Smith didn't like former "First Take" partner Max Kellerman because he didn't act like a "white guy." It was a pretty strong accusation to make.

"I know for a fact that you wanted Max to be the white guy. You know, talk on the white issues. You needed another Skip Bayless," Wiley said. "So, he had to look that way. You had to have a white guy, remember those days back then? When everybody needed to keep the stereotypes alive?” Wiley said. “We all know what this is, the typecast. You needed a white guy. Problem is, as T.O. told you and told the world, Max is Blacker than you! And whether you agree with that or not, I don’t believe in that stuff, but I do know one thing. Max knew more Black culture than you. And you got mad.

"How do I know that? I watched, people told me, people that watched told me. That don’t mean he’s Blacker than you, but you took it that way. Cause that means you got your own insecurities, partner. The other thing is, you wanted to win the debates all the time and be the smartest in the room. Oh, you picked wrong dude. Max is a genius, I am not exaggerating that. This is not hyperbole, brother. This dude’s a genius."

Smith has not responded to this claim from Wiley. If we had to guess, it's only a matter of time before he goes off.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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