Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit Stephen A. Smith knows exactly what his job is. The media personality is here to stir the pot. The sports pundit is no stranger to controversial opinions on famous athletes, teams, plays and decisions.
Throughout the 2024 presidential election, weβve seen him expand his well-known gimmick into politics. Now, heβs turning his attention to President Joe Biden.
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While appearing on NewsNationβs βCuomoβ on Monday, the βFirst Takeβ host offered his thoughts on President Bidenβs pardon of his son Hunter Biden. Smith didnβt like the presidentβs explanation that he was tired of Republicans using his sonβs troubles to get to him and politicizing the case.
βThe Biden situation disgusted me in terms of departing only from this standpoint,β he said. βYou wanna be a cynic, and you want to act like you would be offended by something like that? If youβre one of those people out there, fine. But no one within reason would and would have a problem with him saying, βItβs my son. I love him. Thereβs no way Iβm sending him to jail, and I have the power to avoid it.β Nobody will blame him for that. But thatβs not where he went.β
Smith doesnβt see a difference in how Republicans treated Hunter Biden and how Democrats investigated President-elect Donald Trump. He even went on to call President Bidenβs decision and reasoning βweak.β
βFor him to come out and talk about that. This was a witch hunt, when clearly it could be argued thatβs exactly what you were doing to Donald Trump. What you assisted in doing seems beyond hypocritical, and that was what disgusted me,β he said. βIt wasnβt his decision. It wasnβt him pardoning his son. It was the weak, pathetic explanation that he gave, which has most critics just shaking their heads and raising their eyebrows, saying, βWhat nerve you have.β
Apparently, ESPN doesnβt have a problem with Smithβs controversial takes, as heβs close to signing a multi-million dollar extension. According to Variety, ESPN, and its parent company, Disney are possibly looking to sign the popular sports analyst to a type of βfirst lookβ deal that would see βSmith-backed conceptsβ produced for the entertainment studioβs various properties.
The Athleticβs Andrew Marchand is reporting that Smith could garner $20 million a year, with the deal possibly hitting five years and $100 million. If this happens, it would make him the networkβs highest paid personality.
Sorry Dallas Cowboys fans and womenβs basketball enthusiasts...it seems like youβll have to put up with Smithβs shenanigans even longer. And if this contract extension makes him the networkβs highest paid personality, you know heβs going to get even louder and crazier with his takes.
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