After Stephen A. Smith made public comments about potentially being laid off by ESPN in the future, Blaze Media host and former NFL player Jason Whitlock has fired back via Twitter. In a quote tweet, Whitlock expressed that Smith has been upset since ESPN signed Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pat McAfee to multiyear, multi-million dollar contracts. While Smith’s salary is unknown and has been reported as being $8 million or $12 million, he has spoken on numerous occasions about the last time he negotiated his contract. In his message, Whitlock stated that Smith is looking for $25 million annually in his next negotiation and that everything he says publicly is a negotiating tactic. He also wondered if FOX Sports would consider signing Smith and also have him contribute to its news content as a multifaceted commentator, although Smith has aspirations to do more acting and, perhaps, host late-night television.
“We’ve got a few people at ESPN getting paid more than me,” Smith said to those people wishing he was laid off. “They don’t have the No. 1 show; they don’t have the top ratings [and] they don’t generate more revenue. How come y’all didn’t bring their names up? And by the way, none of them are Black. How come you didn’t bring their names up? I wonder why.”
In The New York Times bestselling novel “Straight Shooter,” Smith discusses his negotiations over the years with ESPN and how he has assembled a team around him to ensure he thrives. From Rushion McDonald to his agents Josh Pyatt and Jon Rosen, along with former ESPN executive Mark Shapiro leading his representation, Smith has the team around him he believes will allow him to continue to thrive.
Earlier this week on The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith expressed his sentiments towards ESPN laying off several members of its on-air talent roster ahead of the entity reporting its own earnings for the first time this November. As it pertains to his former First Take co-host Max Kellerman, Smith was disappointed to see him let go and said that if he ever needed his assistance, he would not hesitate to do so.
Although Smith has been labeled by many media reporters as being safe from layoffs, Smith does not assume he will always be safe and is grateful for every day he has on the air.
“You shouldn’t blame Disney, and you shouldn’t blame ESPN,” Smith said of the layoffs. “This isn’t some corporate lackey taking the whole corporate line. I’m paying attention and I’m reading the tea leaves, and I’m telling you what it is.”
