ESPN gets entangled in yet another controversy with NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith at its center

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 24, 2025, 16:47 IST

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Stephen A. Smith is the center of a controversy after ESPN producer Ryan Bertrand's leaked audio made racially insensitive remarks about him. Bertrand, now in hiding, criticized Smith's comments on Gaza and called him an 'angry Black man.' Fans demand action from ESPN.

ESPN gets entangled in yet another controversy with NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith at its center

Stephen A. Smith (via Getty Images)

Stephen A. Smith has found himself in the middle of one more controversy, but this time, he is not the one starting it; he is the center of it. A leaked audio from a producer in ESPN is making the rounds on social media, who has made some insensitive and racially crude remarks about the host. The leak was shared by James O'Keefe's media group, and fans are all over it as they try to guess what ESPN will come up with in response to this. Neither Smith nor ESPN are yet to make any statements on the matter so far.

ESPN producer calls Stephen A. Smith an "angry black man"

In what is being called out by many in the media as outrageous, a producer in ESPN, Ryan Bertrand, has made some disparaging comments about the channel's highest-paid host, Stephen A. Smith. In A leaked audio currently going viral on the internet, Bertrand can be heard calling Smith A an "angry Black man."

He was heard speaking about Stephen A.'s recent comments about the Gaza conflict, saying, "Brother, you were just talking about the Lakers three hours ago... What do you know about Gaza?" He also called him "crazy" and someone who is only there to "create controversy" for the media outlet.

Ryan Bertrand has gone into hiding mode since the leak

Ryan Bertrand, the producer for ESPN has gone private on his socials, most likely trying to hide from the media until this all blows over. His LinkedIn profile is gone, and his X (formerly Twitter) account has been made private. Neither he nor ESPN have made any comments regarding the matter, but it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Stephen A. Smith also has not responded to anything that is going on currently. We might get to hear his thoughts on the matter the next time he comes up on his podcast show or maybe on his ESPN show, although how likely that will be is up to chance for now. Fans of the host are taking it up with ESPN for prompt action against the producer, especially as the comments made have been racially hurtful and shine a bad light on the company's work culture.
Also Read: “He looked like somebody that belonged”: Stephen A. Smith takes surprising U-turn on his stance on Bronny James

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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