ESPN host and analyst, Stephen A. Smith recently appeared on the Joe Budden show, where he said the following remarks regarding, Max Kellerman, his former co host on the First Take morning show.
“I didn’t like working with him man. I didn’t like it. I thought the show was stale. I thought that we had flatlined when it came to the public at large. And I’m trying to win. I didn’t want to go from number one to number two when Skip left. I’m not having that. That s*** was not going to happen.
Smith elaborated that the numbers hadn’t fallen but had become stagnant.
“I had mad respect for him from the perspective of white dude, highly intelligent, Ivy league educated from Columbia. Smart as a whip. Can talk his a** off. Can talk about anything. And I get all of that. But you weren’t an athlete and you weren’t a journalist. And the absence of the two components left people wondering why should we listen to you.”
After the remarks came down, social media for the most part came to Kellerman’s defense. Kellerman was part of the mass layoffs from ESPN earlier this year…
You can listen to the remarks embedded in the first tweet, and read the comments that follow.
Stephen A Smith on his chemistry with Max Kellerman on first take, sheesh π pic.twitter.com/iXHGRB8hIC
— tayΓΆ (@tayoshi2) September 15, 2023
Basically Stephen A Smith was tired of being labeled as the sellout because Max was the one making all the pro black statements
And Stephen A was tired of twitter sayin he was gettin cooked by Kellerman https://t.co/PQJmyoqqhe
— JP – The Wholesome Truth Teller (@jay_pea619) September 15, 2023
Stephen A thinks it was max we weren't receptive too pic.twitter.com/pElFhBBd5h
— Julieanne Gilchrist (@JulieanneGilch1) September 15, 2023
This segment definitely played a part in Stephen Aβs βif heβs that important to you, he can have first take.β Speech to the execs. pic.twitter.com/f5YZhmVD4I https://t.co/DJ8zSYImwd
— Kip Smithers (@Chughes612) September 15, 2023
I can pinpoint the exact moment Stephen A decided he hated Max Kellerman.
IYKYK https://t.co/BDvciJdBIL pic.twitter.com/q7bRUp9Saj
— Kevin Dawson (@DawsonforReal) September 15, 2023
Stephen A Smith been plotting on firing Max since this day lol https://t.co/fgmzkbRcn1 pic.twitter.com/TzQMyRYu9N
— Β²Β³π»ππ±ππππππππππβοΈππ (@BronGotGame) September 15, 2023
Max' days were numbered after this, what Skip did to Shannon is what Stephen A. did to Max, just different scenario https://t.co/iiRVPxFGOS
— Madd Slander (@madd_slander_) September 15, 2023
Is Stephen A Smith suffering from delusions of grandeur??? I stop watching the show after Max Kellerman was replaced⦠https://t.co/XVspwqSnKm pic.twitter.com/18rh5YzqIp
— HarrietEve9 (@HarrietEve9) September 15, 2023
The Max Kellerman slander has gone too far.
It's time for Max to drop a Stephen A. diss track: pic.twitter.com/vwrlYknceU https://t.co/nkpsC7JDGz
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) September 16, 2023
I think Stephen A vastly over estimates how much his audiences cares that was a reporter before he was on TV lmao https://t.co/4PwBKTHWav
— Isaac Gutierrez (@byisaacg) September 15, 2023
Funny how despite all that Max Kellerman has better takes than Stephen A Smith https://t.co/LRDJ3mjZOy
— ππππ (@DunkLeagueNBA) September 15, 2023
Stephen A just loves making stuff about race huh? https://t.co/6wJX9QK7zb
— Uncovering the Truth (@shendy456) September 15, 2023
Stephen A is cool, but he takes the act too far and you can tell how the money and power and fame has gotten to him. That statement he released about Max Kellerman was uncalled for. Acting like Max was nothing before him and he gave him an opportunity at life. Gross.
— Longfellow Grinch (@Grinch21188235) September 16, 2023
Stephen A I believe wanted Max Kellerman off that show, the second Terrell Owens said βMax almost seems blacker than you.β https://t.co/UiriJEDtOP
— Apollo (@RedNationBlogga) September 15, 2023
Stephen A. was trending for hours afterwards.
What do you think? Did you watch First Take when Stephen A. and Max were on? Is Stephen A. right? Let me know in the comments below.
And please support my blog. Its just me here.
Plus. Catch the discussion about Josh Allen on First Take yesterday HERE