Stephen A. Smith’s ‘rude’ antics behind the scenes at First Take revealed with ESPN star ‘not even saying hi’ to staff

STEPHEN A.

Smith's fallout with the First Take production crew continues, The U.S.

Sun has been told.

The rift escalated after the ESPN star called out the technical team on the air for a recent on-air glitch.

Smith , 56, missed the first 12 minutes of the show on Monday because of "technical difficulties." Once solved, the veteran sportscaster dialed in and apologized to fans for his impromptu absence.

"We are going to get that straight," Stephen A.

then said, visibly frustrated.

"We ain't going to tolerate much more of this." READ MORE ON FIRST TAKE The technical crew didn't see the public rebuke coming and was shocked by Smith's tone and choice of words, which sounded "like a threat," an insider within the team told The U.S.

Sun.

They were particularly upset considering the sportscaster's recent behavior, the source said.

"Stephen doesnt even greet or say hi to most of the people," said the source.

"And he has the nerve to criticize the issue that happened on the production and technical crew.

Most read in Sport "What kind of rude behavior and reaction is that?" The technical team felt Stephen A.

"threw all of us under the bus" with his remarks on Monday, the insider said.

And it felt unjust taking into account the crew's hard work on the set.

"You cant speak like that to people that help and work their a**es off on a show," said the insider.

"Even more so when, often, he makes comments to the crew about how he would like to be filmed, or the angles that he prefers...

like, come on now.

"We have a gameplan for production and we have to respect it, point blank period.

STEPHEN A.

Smith is now the face of ESPN and an executive producer on First Take having initially started working for the company back in 2003.

Smith has held various roles with the network, including hosting radio shows, SportsCenter contributions, and appearing on NBA Countdown.

He was a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1994 to 2010.

His began as an NBA writer before becoming a general sports columnist.

Before that, Smith worked as a reporter with Winston-Salem Journal, the Greensboro News, and the New York Daily News.

"He cant interfere the way he does and criticize when there is a technical issue like it happened on that show.

"That adds more division with the crew, but I guess he likes conflictual situations to get more power or influence on the program." Tensions have been rising behind the scenes between the First Take technical crew and on-air talent, The U.S.

Sun has reported over the past few weeks.

Members of the crew have been unhappy with Smith and Shannon Sharpe said to be creating a tense atmosphere with their attitude, sources said.

Host Molly Qerim is said to have been playing the role of peacemaker to keep the highly successful show going.

The issues arose while Sharpe inked a new deal with ESPN and amid Smith's negotiations with the network over a bumper new contract for himself .

"Many colleagues arent happy with the way [Stephen A.] has been behaving lately, pushing things for himself and Sharpe," a source told The U.S.

Sun recently.

"...and trying to get them both the max deals and money they can get, without taking any consideration for the rest of the team and crew.

Read More on The US Sun "Other journalists and crew people are really mad at him and Sharpe.

"They feel like its a 'two-man band' against the world, and the other people on the team are just here to do and follow what they want to do.".

This article has been shared from the original article on thesun, here is the link to the original article:

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/12377767/stephen-a-smith-first-take-espn-live-tv/