Stephen A. Smith has ended his partnership with Papaya Gaming, the mobile gaming company behind the solitaire app he and several ESPN personalities had recently promoted. Smith confirmed the move to Front Office Sports, saying the two sides had “mutually agreed to end our partnership,” marking another setback for Papaya at a time when the company is facing increased scrutiny.
The exit comes shortly after ESPN instructed several of its on-air talents to halt their own involvement with Papaya. Once questions arose about Papaya’s legal battle with rival Skillz, Smith was allowed to make his own decision on his own timeline.
Mina Kimes, one of those other ESPN talents, admitted last month admitted she did not properly vet the business and called it simple “marketing work.” She said she felt embarrassed and acknowledged it was a “colossal f**k up.”
Papaya gained unusual visibility after partnering with Smith earlier this year. The company leaned into the broadcaster’s viral moment from the NBA Finals, when cameras captured him playing solitaire during Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Smith later became “official ambassador” for Papaya’s World Solitaire Championship in Miami and launched the #BeatStephenChallenge across social media. Other ESPN personalities followed suit, amplifying the campaign through their own feeds.
However, once reporting about the lawsuit intensified, the promotional push unraveled. Smith’s decision to sever ties now brings Papaya another high-profile loss as questions persist about its business practices and future within the mobile gaming marketplace.
Papaya removed the AI ad featuring Smith from their YouTube channel. However, the ad still lives on Smith’s X account. Smith has not commented further on the matter.
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