‘This Is Political!’ Stephen A. Smith Accuses NABJ of Giving Him ‘Thumbs Down’ Award Over Democrat Criticism

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith accused the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) on Monday of being politically motivated in its decision to give him a “Thumbs Down” award.

The NABJ announced the “Thumbs Down” at its annual convention in Atlanta on Saturday, accusing Smith of a “recurring public pattern” of disparaging prominent Black women in politics, sports, and media. The organization did not point to a specific remark, though Smith faced backlash last year for accusing Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) of using “street verbiage” on Capitol Hill, comments for which he later apologized.

Smith initially responded to the award with a fiery post on X, declaring that it was now his “turn” to call out the organization and warning, “I’ve shut my mouth for years. Now y’all started something.” The rebuke marked a notable shift in Smith’s relationship with the NABJ, which hosted a live edition of Smith’s First Take at its convention just two years earlier.

Speaking on the Monday edition of his Straight Shooter show, Smith followed up on his previous remarks, adding, “The reality is that it was a personal hit job. That’s what it was.”

He continued:

This is a journalism organization that didn’t engage in journalism when it came to critiquing me. Disparaging Black women is a very incendiary thing to say. If you felt that adamant about it, [NABJ President Errin Haines], how come I never got a call? How come the NABJ never reached out to me to have a conversation?

And you would go on stage, Ms. Haines, and accuse me of disparaging Black women with no evidence — just your feelings. This is shameful, but it’s OK, because ladies and gentlemen, I understand what’s going on.

And I must admit, the more I think about it, I actually get flattered. Folks are scared. See, I talk too much, and I don’t speak glowingly enough about the Democratic Party. This is political. I am a registered independent. I am fair.

“If I said this about a Black female conservative,” Smith went on to note, “would we be having this conversation?”

Watch the clip above via YouTube.

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