There’s trouble in paradise. On Thursday, the “New York Post” reported ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee were at odds after an explosive argument several weeks ago.
“McAfee called Smith a ‘motherf–ker,’ Ryan Glasspiegel wrote. “The dispute arose from creative differences involving a yet-to-be-announced project that Stephen A. Smith is executive producing through his own production company, Mr. SAS Productions, that will ultimately air on ESPN.
“The Post heard that in the aftermath of the spat, Smith had banned McAfee from appearing on ‘First Take,’ where he had weekly Tuesday appearances during the football season, in the future.”
Smith holds leverage at ESPN. He began working at the company at 2007 and has since become the lead analayst on “First Take,” the program’s most successful show. In comparison, McAfee is the new kid on the block.
The former NFL punter began working at ESPN in 2019. In May 2023, ESPN announced that “The Pat McAfee Show” would move to its platforms, including ESPN television. Per “Sports Business Journal,” McAfee is only maintaining 302,000 of Smith’s 583,000 lead-in, which is a 48% drop.
McAfee and Smith have both made appearances on each other’s shows and on neutral platforms. In a message from McAfee to The Post, the “College GameDay” co-host claimed he is not banned from “First Take.”
“I have nothing but love for Stephen A.,” McAfee wrote in a text message. “I think I’m still welcome on ‘First Take’? I was scheduled through football season to join on Tuesdays, hopefully next year that’ll happen as well.”
“Pat McAfee and I have no issue and the notion that he’d be banned from ‘First Take’ is B.S,” Smith told The Post in an email. “We are No.1 and he has absolutely contributed to us remaining No.1. McAfee was asked to come on each Tuesday through the Super Bowl and he did just that, kicking a-- each time he came on the air.
“If McAfee wants to be on ‘First Take’ next season, he will be on ‘First Take’. I love winners and McAFee has proven he wins — which helps ME win. I don’t know how many times I have to tell folks that he’s trail-blazed a path into a new era for so many of us. I’m grateful to have him as a part of my team and the ESPN Family. And I’m looking forward to having him on for years to come. I sincerely hope that I will not have to repeat myself on this nonsense again!”
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