Journalist and television host Joy Reid has become the latest public figure to criticize ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith over his increasingly political remarks, accusing him of straying far beyond sports and displaying a troubling pattern of deference toward conservative figures.
Reid delivered a sharp rebuke during a 27-minute critique in which she dissected Smith’s character and challenged his commentary surrounding a recent shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Smith had described the incident as legally justified while questioning whether lethal force was necessary, a position Reid strongly disputed.
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She also questioned Smith’s decision to weigh in on immigration enforcement and policing, arguing that such issues fall well outside his professional expertise as a sports analyst.
“From a legal standpoint, you might want to stick to sports,” Reid said. “Stephen, you wouldn’t even have access to education without people like Cleveland Sellers, yet here you are calling Jasmine Crockett loud and wrong while demanding that people respect Donald Trump.”
Reid further pushed back against Smith’s criticism of Black women commentators and rejected his claims regarding her past television ratings. She accused the ESPN personality of reserving his harshest critiques for Black voices while extending grace to conservative figures.
“You have a lot of smoke for Black people,” Reid said, “but when it comes to Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump, you have none. If you’ve been criticizing the right as aggressively as you attack those on the other side, I’d like to see the receipts.”
Reid is not alone in her frustration. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon also expressed his disapproval during an episode of The Don Lemon Show, accusing Smith of “cozying up” to white conservatives through his interpretation of the Minneapolis shooting involving an ICE agent.
Lemon argued that Smith routinely comments on immigration and law enforcement matters “he has no real understanding of,” further questioning the credibility of his political takes.
Smith’s remarks continue to spark debate across social media and mainstream platforms, as critics challenge his growing presence in political discourse and call for accountability over the influence he wields beyond sports commentary.
