The ongoing back-and-forth involving Stephen A. Smith and the New Orleans Pelicans continues to spark reactions across the sports media landscape, with Speakeasy co-host Kieran Hickey-Semple offering one of the more pointed responses to the ESPN personality’s recent comments.
Smith reignited debate Wednesday on First Take after addressing a viral social media video posted by the Pelicans that mocked several of his on-air moments. The segment came after Smith earlier criticized Pelicans star Zion Williamson, labeling the former top overall pick a “bona fide scrub,” which prompted the team’s digital team to fire back with the now widely circulated clip.
However, the exchange drew criticism from Hickey-Semple during the latest episode of the Speakeasy podcast, where the host challenged both Smith’s tone and the direction of his commentary.
“I’m not here to discredit Stephen A. Smith for what he’s done in his career,” Hickey-Semple said. “I’m in this business because of Stephen A. Smith. All I have seen from this man is be an absolute embarrassment. I’m ashamed to say that he’s the one that inspired me to get into this business. He is an absolute cornball.”
While Smith used his platform to question the Pelicans’ relevance and overall franchise success, Hickey-Semple argued that the commentary strayed beyond legitimate basketball criticism and instead leaned heavily into personal posturing.
“As a dude at 58 years old who always dreams of playing in the NBA. To sit there and then just be like, ‘Well, I’m more popular than y’all,’ you’re lame,” Hickey-Semple said. “You think that you are the story continuously over and over again. You sit there and you jest about players and athletes knowing good and damn well you wanted to be that.”
The Speakeasy co-host continued by questioning the tone Smith adopted when responding to the Pelicans’ social media team, suggesting the exchange represented a broader issue in how prominent commentators sometimes interact with athletes and organizations.
“There’s a level of respect that you’re supposed to have for the players that you made your career covering,” Hickey-Semple said. “Have fun in politics, bro, because I don’t want to hear s**t else you’ve got to say. You’re a 58-year-old having a popularity contest with 19, 20, 21-year-olds. You f***ing cornball”
The remarks illustrate how the debate surrounding Smith’s comments has expanded beyond basketball analysis into a broader conversation about tone and responsibility within sports media. Over the past several years, outspoken television personalities have built massive platforms through provocative commentary, while teams and players increasingly use social media channels to respond directly when criticism crosses into viral territory.
Consequently, exchanges like the one involving Smith and the Pelicans rarely remain confined to a single television segment or tweet. Instead, reactions from podcasts, digital shows and social platforms frequently extend the life of the story while introducing new voices into the discussion.
Smith has not provided further comment or response on the matter.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
