Stephen A. Smith Attacks NABJ ‘Smear Job’

Pundit Says He Targets Liberals, Not Women
Immigrant Journo Marks 300 Days in ICE Custody

Homepage photo: Stephen A. Smith says NABJ should be proud that he was chosen for the Broadcast+Cable Hall of Fame.

“This is a journalism organization that didn’t engage in journalism when it came to critiquing me,” Stephen A. Smith said Monday, (Credit: YouTube).

Pundit Says He Targets Liberals, Not Women

Stephen A. Smith took to YouTube Monday to respond to the National Association of Black Journalists’ designation of the ESPN commentator as one of five recipients of its annual “Thumbs Down” award.

The designation, which took up less than five minutes at the “Salute to Excellence” awards dinner Saturday night, quickly became the most talked-about element of the nearly week-long convention. In what Smith Monday called a “smear job,” NABJ said Smith “has established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media.

“Such commentary reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ’s longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities.”

Smith replied that he still loves the organization but that in fact, it’s not Black women he disparages. “I’m disparaging liberals.” Further, he said, the award was the work of only a few board members, not the entire association, and that when he reached to NABJ President Errin Haines to discuss it, she wanted only to talk privately.

Meanwhile, broadcast station owner DuJuan McCoy (pictured), the other Black person to receive a Thumbs Down Saturday, also took issue.

“I am particularly troubled that NABJ chose to publicly attach my name to this designation without first contacting me to discuss any concerns they may have had,” McCoy wrote on LinkedIn.

“An organization that supposedly advocates for fairness and accountability should also be committed to accuracy, transparency, and constructive dialogue. My 37-year career in broadcasting, including my role as one of only two Black owners of major television stations in America, reflects a longstanding commitment to diversity, opportunity, and mentorship. My record speaks for itself.”

Heather Bushman wrote of McCoy for the Indianapolis Star, “The criticism comes about a year after he allegedly terminated former WISH-TV meteorologist Ashley Brown Elliott when she questioned the station’s treatment of Black employees, leading to a new noncompete agreement in employee contracts and a subsequent a mass exodus of WISH staffers.”

However, McCoy wrote in his LinkedIn message, “NABJ appears to suggest that I was recognized with this award because of alleged unfair treatment of Black employees.

“Nothing could be further from the truth and they shameful admitted as much.” NABJ did not specify its reasons for McCoy’s Thumbs Down.

Amid the controversy, Haines (pictured, below) spoke to Akoto Ofori-Atta of Captial B about the firestorm over the Thumbs Down to Smith.

“We certainly heard from folks across Black America who have been concerned about the kinds of things he said about Black women in sports, entertainment, media — whether we’re talking about Vice President Kamala Harris when she ran for president … or Rep. Jasmine Crockett when she was running for the Texas Senate this year,” Haines said.

“He was also involved in a public spat with veteran, independent journalist Joy-Ann Reid. These things are illustrative of a pattern we felt was harmful. Yes, Stephen A. Smith is somebody that speaks publicly and has an opinion that is valuable as a prominent voice in this country, but what does it mean when that voice and that platform are being used in a way that diminishes the public voice and presence of Black women in our society?”

Here is the bulk of Smith’s response:

“The reality of the situation is that you don’t have facts. You have feelings. And this is where it gets a bit deep. What a few board members decided to do, no doubt egged on by a couple of people on the board who will remain nameless, but put their names up. You can see the names there for yourself. Figure it out. Along with some others. The reality is, is that it was a personal hit job. That’s what it was.

“This is a journalism organization that didn’t engage in journalism when it came to critiquing me. Disparaging Black women is a very incendiary thing to say. If you felt that adamant about it, President Haines, how come I never got a call? How come NABJ never reached out to me to have a conversation? And you will go on stage, Ms. Haines, and accuse me of disparaging Black women with no evidence. Just your feelings. This is shameful, but it’s okay.

 

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The Real Reason: Politics

“Because ladies and gentlemen, I understand what’s going on. And I must admit, the more I think about it, I actually get flattered. Folks are scared. See, I talk too much. And I don’t speak glowingly enough about the Democratic Party. This is political. I am a registered independent. I am fair.

“If I said this about a Black female conservative, any of the things that I said about Jasmine Crockett, Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, will we be having this conversation? Would you have given me the Thumbs Down award if I had said that about a Sage Steele? If I had said it about a Candace Owens? If I had said it about a Condoleezza Rice? Would we be having this conversation? Just political.

“What you’re not paying attention to is that I’ve had that POTUS show since September 17th. Ladies and gentlemen, I have had 60 guests in the political sphere. 30 Republicans and 30 Democrats. I am a registered independent who leans left socially and right fiscally. I can’t stand high taxes like they exist in New York, New Jersey and L.A. But outside of that, I’m down. And the only thing that I have against the left is pretty much the socialist left.  . . .

“Before I taped this show, I reached out last night and asked the president of the NABJ to come on this show to have a conversation with me about her assertions that she articulated on that stage. Do you know what she said to me, ladies and gentlemen? She’d rather have a private off the air conversation first. Oh, really? So you can go on a public platform, denigrate me, make these accusations against me without calling. But when I challenge you to come on here face to face and have a conversation with me, now we want a private conversation. Before. Nah. I will never speak to her because the deed is done.

My Continued Support Despite This Attack

“I’m not talking about the NABJ. I’m just talking about a few board members that came to this conclusion acting like they speak for everybody. There’s plenty of people that were in attendance for the NABJ that had no idea they were going to do that and were absolutely appalled at what they did to me. This is not about the NABJ. This is not an indictment against them. It certainly isn’t an indictment against the Sports Task Force filled with a bunch of my brothers that I will always be there for. And it certainly isn’t something that should be held against aspiring journalists and those already in the business who aspire to rise higher. I’m always here.

The Irony of It All

“But those few board members who made this decision, it was wrong. It was grossly unfair. And more importantly, it was self-defeating. I will repeat. One of your own is about to be inducted into the Broadcast+ Cable Hall of Fame. The most prestigious honor. Other than winning a Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious honor one can achieve in our business. On September 29th, I am about to be a member. When we look at accomplishments in this industry by Black people in this industry, I’m one of the top dudes to have ever achieved in this business. Yet I’m not in your Hall of Fame.

“I was good enough to speak to the kids. I was good enough to be in the booth for the job fair. I was good enough to have a nationally televised show at your conference. Over the last two years and the year I don’t come back with the show is when I get the Thumbs Down award.

“By the way, speaking of my company, Disney, that employs me, that I’m a star for. Disney and ABC News Group announced a four-year financial commitment to NABJ to support the NABJ Leadership Academy. NABJ, why don’t you reach out to Disney and ask who is one of the people behind the scenes encouraging them to do so? Why don’t you ask? Black producers, Black associate producers, Black contributors, Black correspondents, Black talents, why don’t you ask what role I’ve played and will continue to play in that?

Former ESPN host Jemele Hill and Don Lemon, once of CNN, take up the Stephen A Smith debate (Credit: YouTube)

My Ongoing Commitment

“It’s not going to stop me from continuing to be the ambassador for HBCUs. We could do everything that I can to help HBCUs generate money, notoriety, et cetera. Got something coming down the pike, by the way, where I’m about to ink a deal where we’re broadcasting HBCU basketball games. I’m going to need some Black folks working for me as talent, as producers and beyond. That’s what I’m doing, NABJ. I got a couple of projects that’s been green lit. Developing shows. I’m going to need some Black folks who can act and produce and edit and beyond. That’s what I’m doing NABJ.

Final Words

“I’ll just close by saying I don’t want enemies, but I’m not here to be liked. I’m here to call things as I see them, which I’ve earned the right to do over a journalism career that now spans 33 years. 33. I was good enough to celebrate and to bring on board when I was showing up there. And the second I’m not there, I get a thumbs down. And we throw out a very incendiary critique of me, accusing me of disparaging Black women. One, what you really meant to say is that I’m disparaging liberals because I happen to disagree with some of the things that the left is doing.

“If these so-called disparaging things I did, which again is totally false, were true and I was saying it about Black female conservatives, you wouldn’t have said a word, which means it’s not my credibility that’s in question. It’s yours. Because a journalism organization ain’t supposed to be doing that. You ain’t supposed to be taking sides, generally speaking. You’re supposed to go on a case by case basis, research, do your homework, but most importantly, be objective. This is not objectivity. This was a smear job.

“But it won’t stop me. It’s not going to stop me from listening and learning and striving to get better and be better. The NABJ is the NABJ. I’m here. I’ll never abandon the organization. But I won’t forget the few board members in what you tried to do. It was wrong. Totally wrong. I will strive to do better. Will you?

“Because contrary to popular belief, we ain’t supposed to be about popularity contests and people agreeing with us and us saying stuff that makes everybody feel good. We’re journalists. We’re pundits. We’re commentators. We’re here to disrupt. We’re here to provoke the uncomfortable. That’s what comes with the job. At least one of us remembered that. Peace and love everybody. I holler at y’all later.”

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Immigrant Journo Marks 300 Days in ICE Custody

Carlitos Ricardo Parias, left, receives a certificate of recognition from Jose Ugarte, chief of staff for Los Angeles City Council member Curren Price, in Los Angeles in August 2025. (Credit: Office of Los Angeles City Council member Curren Price) 

“Somewhere in a sweltering desert, cockroaches scurry around the cell of Carlitos Ricardo Parias. He holds up a plastic bottle, gazing at the worm-like creatures swimming in his drinking water. His other arm is turning purple from a gunshot wound for which he says he hasn’t received proper medical care,” Adam Rose, deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, wrote Sunday for the Intercept.   

“His gulag isn’t in a distant Soviet or banana republic. It’s about an hour and a half from Disneyland, in a small California town called Adelanto.

“After Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shot and detained Parias last October, the Los Angeles-based journalist will cross 300 days in ICE detention on Monday. His horrifying conditions aren’t unique among immigrant detainees, but Parias’s case is extraordinary. Perhaps no journalist has endured such a sustained sequence of violence, prosecution, and imprisonment at the hands of the U.S. government.”

Ximena Bustillo expained June 20 for NPR, “Parias entered the country illegally in 2002 from Mexico and spent the last two decades living in the Los Angeles area, including with his two U.S. citizen children.