Stephen A. Smith fires back at Michelle Beadle, Cari Champion…
Stephen A. Smith had time.
During Monday’s installment of his “Straight Shooter” podcast, Smith responded to his former colleagues at ESPN, Michelle Beadle and Cari Champion, after they individually took to social media to air out their very own grievances with him.
Smith opened the present by addressing Beadle, who said Thursday that she’s praying for his downfall after the “First Take” host endorsed Papaya Gaming — which is battling a federal lawsuit accusing it of rigging games, as reported by Front Office Sports.
“You wanted my attention, you got it,” Smith said. “… I’ve not said a phrase about [Beadle] in over 11 years. Do y’all know? I don’t know her. You would suppose there may be some beef that’s been occurring that has been pervasive throughout the trade for years — it’s all because of her.
“… So when you hear her talking about me, please understand I don’t know her. I have no relationship with her. She says I don’t like her. How would you know? It has to be because of how you’re acting Michelle Beadle. It cant be because of me… If I don’t like you, which is true now it because of the multitude of times you’ve been on the attack.”
Beadle, who left ESPN in 2019, publicly ripped Smith — saying she doesn’t respect him, among other issues — after the reveal that he would substitute her time slot on Mad Dog Sports Radio together with his new Sirius XM present, which launched this September.
On Thursday, Beadle doubled down on her disdain for Smith, saying it’s “gross” that he would go into enterprise with Papaya Gaming amid the ongoing allegations against the company.
Michelle Beadle at SiriusXM Studios in New York City. Getty Images
Smith was named the company’s official ambassador for the first ever World Solitaire Championship in February.
Beadle said ESPN is at fault for “creating this monster that’s bigger than you now” because the company “let [Smith] run rampant” — including that the Worldwide Leader “pays him a gazillion dollars to get a lot of stuff wrong and yell” on-air.
Champion, who hosted “First Take” alongside Smith and Skip Bayless from 2012-15, entered the chat when she responded to Beadle’s comments about Smith on social media over the weekend.
“I’m old enough to remember being on that show [‘First Take’] and getting in trouble based on some comments you said about women and whether or not they should know their place when it comes to abuse or non abuse — Ray Rice comes to mind, but I’m not gonna get into the details of all of that,” Champion said in a video on social media, which Smith replayed on his present.
“But Beadle just got here for you yet again, like she did once I labored at ESPN. I’m wondering do you will have that same smoke for her that you will have for Jasmine Crockett, Michelle Obama, that you sometimes have for me and Jemele Hill.
“Do you have that same smoke? I’m sick of it. Keep the same energy and I call you and I root for… but you keep that same energy sir, for everybody.”
Cari Champion speaks at the Atlantic Festival in New York on September 19, 2025. Deonté Lee/BFA.com/Shutterstock
In 2014, Beadle called out Smith on social media for controversial comments made about home violence in the wake of ex-NFL participant Ray Rice’s violent assault on his now-wife. Smith was suspended by ESPN for per week for his comments.
During Monday’s “Straight Shooter” present, Smith responded to Champion and said she ought to be ashamed of herself for her comments.
“I’ve shown you nothing but love,” Smith said. “What are you speaking about? You have been employed at ‘First Take’ in large half because of me… When have I spoken against you?… That is a lie. Me, dogging Cari Champion? When?
“And if I did it, why did you call me and root for me? What are you sick of? Or did you just want the attention… I’m not going to be scared by women that I have loved on for many years… Y’all are talking without facts.”
Stephen A. Smith responded to Michelle Beadle and Cari Champion over comments they made about him during his “Straight Shooter” podcast on Monday, November 10, 2025. YouTube/Stephen A. Smith
Smith went on to say that he was primarily chargeable for bringing Champion to ESPN, despite the opinions of Bayless and others.
“Are you sick of the attention you’re not getting?” Smith said of Champion. “Because you’re not on ESPN anymore. I didn’t ask you to leave. It was your choice.”
Smith added that he helped arrange a gathering between ESPN and Champion because she was “wanting to come back” to work at the network.
He didn’t say when the assembly came about.
Stay up to date with the latest action and trending tales from the world of sports activities! C-lebrity.com brings you the freshest sports activities news, highlights, and knowledgeable insights — all fastidiously curated to maintain you informed and engaged. From major league updates to inspiring athlete tales, we cowl it multi function place.
Visit C-lebrity.com daily for complete coverage of the games, tournaments, and sporting moments that matter most — your final source for every little thing sports activities and leisure.