ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized high-profile supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris, including Oprah Winfrey and former First Lady Michelle Obama, claiming their campaign messaging tactics alienated voters in the 2024 presidential election.
Smith, known for his passionate and often polarizing commentary, has built a career that goes beyond sports analysis. Born and raised in New York City, Smith attended Winston-Salem State University on a basketball scholarship, though an injury ended his playing days early. After earning a degree in mass communication, he launched his career as a sports journalist and eventually joined ESPN in 2003, where he quickly became a staple on shows like “First Take” and “NBA Countdown.”
He is no stranger to controversy, whether for his comments on domestic violence, his stance on athletes using recreational drugs, or his unapologetic critiques of certain sports figures, which have often gone viral and sparked debates across social media.
He argued that wealthy celebrities’ attempts to influence voters through guilt and moral lecturing may have backfired, contributing to Harris’s defeat against Donald Trump in the presidential race.
“They’re worth hundreds of millions if not billions,” Smith said, referring to the celebrity supporters. “They’re incredibly detached from [voters’] way of life and their quality of life.”
The sports pundit specifically targeted comments made by Obama suggesting that voting for Trump represented opposition to women’s interests. Smith argued this messaging strategy was particularly ineffective with male voters. He also criticized Winfrey’s warning about the future of voting rights under Trump’s leadership.
“If we don’t agree with you, we’re against you – that kind of rhetoric doesn’t work,” Smith stated during his political commentary.
The election outcome, which Smith characterized as a “referendum on the Democratic Party” and an “annihilation” of Harris by Trump, highlighted voter concerns about various issues, including the economy, border policies, and transgender rights in sports. Smith suggested that the Democrats’ positions on these matters, combined with celebrity messaging, contributed to their electoral defeat.
Smith’s increasing involvement in political commentary comes amid his contract negotiations with ESPN, where he is reportedly seeking a nine-figure deal. His appearances on conservative host Sean Hannity’s show have included discussions about Trump’s age and mental acuity, as well as broader political issues.
While Smith has expressed criticism of both major political parties, he recently revealed his political aspirations, stating he would consider running for president if he believed he had a legitimate chance of winning. However, he emphasized he would take different approaches to key issues, particularly immigration policy. He stated that, regarding immigration, he would take a less extreme approach than Trump, specifically opposing the denial of citizenship to children born in the United States to immigrant parents.