Stephen A Smith speaks out on ESPN Layoffs
In what has seemed, one of the biggest weeks in ESPN history is only getting bigger, as TV personal Stephen A. Smith has defended his former friends and fellow employees now, saying they, “deserved better.”
“ESPN laid off about 20 members of its on-air talent … friends of mine, actually, definitely respected colleagues who’d done a phenomenal job and deserved better,” he said on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
“They deserved better than the times we’re living in.”
Stephen A Smith would go on to give his condolences to Jalen Rose, who was recently fired by ESPN. Smith says he has a “lot of love” for Rose and that he is a “brilliant basketball mind.”
“Jeff Van Gundy’s another,” Smith said. “Outstanding, brilliant basketball analyst for ESPN for years. I could say I’m gonna miss him but I just can’t imagine he’s gonna be out of work for long. I’m sure I’ll see him on-air doing his thing. Jeff Van Gundy’s been a Hall of Fame analyst and commentator.
“My brother, Keyshawn Johnson,” Smith continued. “We’ve been friends for over 20 years. I’m sad to see him go. What he’s done for my life, just being a big brother and a friend to me, I love him to death.”
Stephen A Smith would go on to shout out his former co-workers, especially reminiscing on Max Kellerman, his former partner in crime with ESPN’s “First Take.”
“I’m even gonna miss Max Kellerman,” Smith said. “I know y’all thought I wouldn’t, I am not happy that he is gone. We all know what history we had. We all know what happened with he and I parting ways on ‘First Take.’ I don’t want the brother unemployed, I want him gainfully employed. I want him having a job and a career.
“And that brother knows his boxing inside and out, is smart as a whip, and has been around a long time. I wish him no ill will. And, matter of fact, although I sincerely doubt he ever will, if he ever called me needing my help, I would not hesitate to help him.”
Smith is still one of the few ESPN employees who are still standing at the company, for now.
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