headtopics
Stephen A.
Smith Slams ESPN for Firing Star Mid-Broadcast The outspoken commentator expressed his anger after ESPN fired his colleague, Ryan Clark, in a very unceremonious way.
says hes barely keeping a lid on his anger after fellow ESPN commentator Ryan Clark was fired by the network during a live broadcast.
Smith said that he made it very, very clear to his bosses that he was unhappy about Clarks firing.
ESPN chose to inform Clark of his firing during Mondays live broadcast out of fear that news of his departure would leak and that he would learn about it online, sources told The Athletic.
Describing Clark as arguably the best NFL analyst in America, as well as a friend and a brother, Smith said he had been fighting the urge to lash out at people spreading narratives about the former Pittsburgh Steelers safety.Over the last few hours, I had to really, really refraindamn, they got blisters on my tongue and my fingers from biting my tongue and biting my fingers from refraining from going after folks when I saw how people were talking about him, the 58-year-old host said.
When I saw how people were talking about him, I was like, they dont know him at all.He later added, I just wish that I could have been in enough of an influential or powerful position to prevent his exit from happening, while conceding, Business is business.
Sources told The Athletic that ESPN had planned to fire Clark on Tuesday, but chose to inform him during Mondays live broadcast out of fear that news of his departure would leak and that he would learn about it online.Clark joined ESPN as an analyst in March 2015 and was making more than $2 million a year, according to sources.
His job was allegedly in jeopardy since Februarys Super Bowl, and ESPN executives had soured on him after incidents with colleague Peter Schrager, both on and off the air.
Clark told his colleague while pointing a finger, We shouldnt do this on TV, so I apologize if people think this is rude: thats the non-player in you.
Schrager responded by asking Clark not to belittle him to allow him to voice other perspectives.
Clark said in turn, Peter, what I need for you to do is not get mad and let me finish.
ESPN executives had an eye on Clarks performance after incidents with colleague Peter Schrager, both on and off the air.Clark, who won a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Studio Analyst in 2023, later posted an apology on X, writing, Today, I had an interaction with my colleagueboth on and off the air that I regret.
I have apologized to Peter and taken accountability with ESPN leadership.
Smith defended Clarks personality in his video, saying, Theres nothing that hed say on social media or on television that he wouldnt tell you to your face if thats how he felt.
Does that mean he was perfect? No.
Does that mean he was right all the time? No, Smith continued.But he was conscientious, and he was thoughtful.
And hes not somebody that I just loved working with; hes somebody that I love, period.
ESPN carried out further layoffs on Tuesday as a part of broader cuts at Disney, ESPNs parent company, firing baseball commentator Karl Ravech, NFL insider Tom Pelissero, and former NFL star Cam Newton, according to.