Outspoken media character Stephen A. Smith chimed in on Thursday night time’s presidential debate.
The longtime ESPN commentator has brazenly mentioned politics in recent times, regardless of the community’s push to “keep on with sports activities” and steer away from political commentary, notably since Jimmy Pitaro took over as the corporate’s president in 2018.
Smith reaffirmed his willingness to dive into the political realm when he appeared on NewsNation on Thursday night time throughout the community’s presidential debate protection.
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Stephen A. Smith appears to be like on throughout Recreation 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airways Middle in Dallas on June 14. (Jim Cowsert/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)
Shortly after the talk ended, Smith took to social media to share some extra ideas on what transpired in Atlanta. He additionally referred to as out Vice President Harris and former first girl Michelle Obama when he provided his tackle the talk.
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“So do y’all lastly need to cease arguing with me about Biden now???” Smith shared in a publish on X. “Have your fears now been confirmed? @MichelleObama. @VP. Someone. Please assist! Biden’s workforce WANTED this? His employees, His family members…. How may you set him on the market like that! How may you!”
Along with his position with ESPN, Smith hosts “The Stephen A. Smith Present.” He has beforehand said that the podcast is separate from his duties on the community, and that the platform grants him the liberty to debate politics or different issues within the information that he’s keen on.
Pitaro took over as ESPN president in 2018. Beneath his management, the community has consciously veered away from programming and commentary that delves into politics or race relations.
Former President Trump, left, and President Biden debated on Thursday night time. (Getty Photographs)
“I’ve had this dialogue internally with tons of of our workers that sports activities is about uniting and ESPN must unite folks round sports activities,” Pitaro informed The Washington Publish in 2019. “That’s our position, or one in every of our roles.”
He added that he additionally tries to hearken to what sports activities followers are saying concerning the programming they need to see.
“After all I’m, and I’ve my very own views. However I additionally acknowledge that once I or one in every of our on-air personalities converse publicly, that that’s acquired because the opinions of ESPN, and that may’t be. We take a look at what our followers are telling us,” stated Pitaro.
“What we’ve stated from Day 1 is that we’re the place of file, we’re overlaying the intersection of sports activities and politics. That hasn’t modified. Why is it not possible to make the excellence between sports activities information and non-sports information?”
Sports activities commentator Stephen A. Smith makes an look on a podcast. (PBD podcast)
Nevertheless, in July 2019, then-ESPN radio host Dan Le Batard referred to as out the community for putting restrictions on political commentary.
“We right here at ESPN don’t have the abdomen for the struggle,” Le Batard stated on his radio present on the time. “We don’t discuss what is occurring except there’s some type of weak, cowardly sports activities angle that we are able to run it by means of.” Le Batard’s feedback got here on the heels of “ship her again” chants directed at Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., that broke out throughout a political rally.
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Smith has change into one in every of ESPN’s largest stars, and he’s reportedly within the midst of contract negotiations with the community. In accordance with Puck, Smith’s contract expires in 2025, however he has been provided a brand new deal that would pay him $18 million on an annual foundation.
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