During Monday’s episode of his “Straight Shooter” podcast, Stephen A. Smith fired back at his former ESPN colleagues Michelle Beadle and Cari Champion after the two teamed up on social media to publicly criticize him. Smith could have ignored the commentary, as he has done in the past, but this time he chose to address the issue head-on. Speaking with unmistakable venom, he challenged their claims while also revisiting their professional histories and long-running tensions with him (source: ESPN).

Michelle Beadle Reignites Her Longstanding Feud With Stephen A. Smith

Beadle, the former host of ESPN’s “SportsNation” and original co-host of “Get Up,” has made no secret over the years that she is not a fan of Stephen A. Smith. Her latest criticism came after Smith endorsed Papaya Gaming — a company currently facing a federal lawsuit alleging that its games are rigged. On her own podcast, Beadle said she was “praying for his downfall,” doubling down on sentiments she has previously expressed (source: The Hollywood Reporter).

She also suggested that ESPN is partly responsible for Smith’s outsized influence in sports media, saying the network “created this monster” by giving him a massive platform and one of the biggest salaries in the industry.

Stephen A. Smith Delivers a Ruthless Response

Smith responded on his SiriusXM show by implying that some of his critics are simply bitter about their careers.

He argued that certain people “talk smack now because they can’t get a job in the business” and “didn’t do a good enough job when they were in the business.” Smith — who has been teasing a potential run for President in 2028 — added that individuals who target him tend to be “desperate for attention” (source: SiriusXM).

“You wanted my attention, you got it,” Smith said. “I haven’t said a word about Michelle Beadle in over 11 years. I don’t know her. There’s no long-standing beef on my end — it’s all on hers.”

He emphasized that any dislike he now has toward Beadle comes from her repeated jabs, not anything he initiated.

Cari Champion Enters the Conversation

Cari Champion, who co-hosted “First Take” with Smith and Skip Bayless from 2012–2015, also resurfaced with criticism. Champion noted that she has not forgotten past controversies, specifically referencing Smith’s widely criticized comments during the Ray Rice domestic violence incident — remarks that led to Smith’s suspension from ESPN in 2014 (source: USA Today).

Champion posted a video questioning whether Smith attacks certain women more harshly than others:

“I wonder if you have the same smoke for Michelle Beadle that you have for Jasmine Crockett, Michelle Obama, or sometimes for me and Jemele Hill,” Champion said in a clip Smith replayed on his podcast.

Stephen A. Smith Eviscerates Cari Champion

On “Straight Shooter,” Smith expressed shock and disappointment at Champion’s remarks.

“I’ve shown you nothing but love,” he said. “You were hired at ‘First Take’ in large part because of me… When have I ever publicly gone after you? That is a lie.”

He accused Champion of seeking attention and called out what he viewed as revisionist history. Smith also insisted that he refuses to be “bullied or intimidated” by women he says he supported for years (source: The Athletic).

Smith and Champion’s relationship grew strained during the fallout from the Ray Rice incident, with Smith previously saying he felt “blindsided” and “betrayed” by how Champion handled the situation publicly.

Claims of Unequal Treatment

Champion joined a chorus of other critics who have accused Smith of responding more aggressively to Black women and fellow sports commentators while being far more measured with white industry power players (source: Andscape).

A History of Friction Between Beadle and Smith

Beadle’s issues with Smith go back even further. She has often cited Smith’s 2014 comments on domestic violence as the catalyst for their deteriorating relationship.

After leaving ESPN in 2019, Beadle criticized Smith repeatedly, saying, “I don’t respect his work. He doesn’t like me,” and accusing him of “piggish” on-air commentary that she believed crossed professional boundaries (source: The Hollywood Reporter).

In 2025, Beadle was relieved of her duties at SiriusXM. The network later replaced her “Beadle and Decker” show with programming from Stephen A. Smith — a decision she described as humiliating and disrespectful in an interview (source: Front Office Sports).

Smith Denies He Targeted Beadle’s Time Slot

Smith denied any involvement in the executive decisions that resulted in him replacing Beadle’s program, saying he was simply following SiriusXM’s instructions on when to announce his new slot. “It’s none of my business who stays, who goes, or who gets moved,” Smith said at the time.

A Conflict Unlikely to End Soon

Even though Smith largely left Beadle alone for years, she continues to criticize him publicly. And with Smith now owning one of the largest platforms in sports media — and possibly eyeing a political future — the public nature of these disputes shows no signs of slowing down.