Stephen A. Smith Wants Sit-Down With Cari Champion, Jemele Hill

Stephen A. Smith says he’s ready to sit down with former ESPN colleagues Cari Champion and Jemele Hill, and he wants to do it now.

Smith accepted a challenge to appear on the women’s “Flagrant and Funny” podcast after Champion called him out for not joining them to discuss his recent “Thumbs Down” award from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

“We’ve asked Stephen A. to have you on the show. You ain’t coming on the show,” Champion said during a recent episode. “He don’t want it in real time.”

Hill added, “Uh-oh, you’re about to get us in trouble, again.”

Smith responded early Friday, Aug. 28, in a video he posted on X. The ESPN host included a clip of the women’s comments, and insisted it was the first time he heard anything about the invitation.

“I just saw that,” he said. “I don’t really have much to say other than, since that’s the first invitation I’ve received because I certainly wasn’t aware of any invitation before now. Fine, I accept.”

Smith then made it clear — he wants the smoke and is currently on the women’s home turf.

“I’m here in L.A. Y’all are here. We can do this tomorrow… whatever you want,” he said. “No problem at all. I look forward to the conversation.”

The ESPN commentator has been making the rounds, speaking to Fox News, News Nation, and on the USC campus this week after NABJ criticized him at the group’s annual convention in Atlanta.

During its Salute to Excellence gala on Aug. 15, the organization announced five recipients of its “Thumbs Down” award, saying the dubious distinction recognizes “conduct that harms Black journalists, weakens newsroom equity, reinforces damaging portrayals of Black people, or compromises the public service mission of journalism.”

NABJ noted it singled Smith out for a “recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media.”

The broadcaster and cultural commentator sharply rejected the criticism and devoted an episode of his self-titled podcast to the NABJ dishonor.

During the Aug. 25 installment, he called the group’s criticism “egregious.” Still, Smith said he has no problem with NABJ as a whole, only “a few board members.”

Now he appears ready to continue the conversation with Champion and Hill. As of Friday afternoon, there was no public announcement on when Smith might appear on “Flagrant and Funny.”