Stephen A. Smith and Cari Champion revisit ESPN disagreements on podcast

Stephen A. Smith recently appeared on the “Flagrant and Funny” podcast, hosted by former colleagues Cari Champion and Jemele Hill, where the discussion centered on past professional grievances from their time at ESPN.

A primary point of contention involved the circumstances surrounding Champion joining the program “First Take” in 2012. Smith claimed that Skip Bayless was initially uninterested in hiring her and suggested he played a role in her securing the position. Champion rejected this characterization, asserting that she was an established broadcaster and that Smith’s version of events misrepresents her career trajectory.

The conversation also addressed the timing of public criticism. Smith questioned why Champion waited years to voice her disagreements publicly rather than addressing them privately during their tenure at the network. Champion explained that her silence was intended as a form of support, stating she preferred to keep disagreements “in the family.” Jemele Hill also noted that Smith had not reached out to her during her 2017 suspension from the network.