Stephen A. Smith calls out Cari Champion and Jemele Hill after podcast interview
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The ESPN personality says he expected their nearly three-hour conversation to be released unedited and wants the full footage.
Stephen A. Smith is calling out former ESPN colleagues Cari Champion and Jemele Hill over how their nearly three-hour “Flagrant and Funny” interview was handled after being recorded. Smith’s response comes amid his ongoing dispute with critics over his treatment of Black women.
Yahoo Sports reported that Smith addressed the interview on his “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.” podcast, saying he believed the full conversation would be released unedited. Instead, the two-part episode totaled about two hours and 38 minutes.
Smith said he wants the complete interview made public, wants the YouTube comment section reopened, and wants a copy of the footage so he can post it on his own channel if he chooses.
He also objected to Champion questioning whether his appearance had benefited the show. Smith claimed “Flagrant and Funny” had roughly 9,000 YouTube subscribers before his appearance and gained more than 30,000 afterward, while videos from the interview drew hundreds of thousands of views.
“A simple thank you would have sufficed,” Smith said, adding that he sat for the interview because of his respect for Champion and Hill as former colleagues.
Smith also read a response from the show’s team saying the edited upload reflected a production mistake. The team said comments were disabled on the second part because the first video attracted abusive and threatening messages directed at the women.
Smith condemned the harassment but maintained that the complete conversation should still be available.
Champion later responded in an Instagram Story, thanking Smith for appearing on “Flagrant and Funny” while saying she now realized her words would be closely scrutinized. She made clear she was speaking only for herself and not Hill.
The interview followed months of public tension between Smith, Champion and Hill. During the conversation, they revisited their years at ESPN, disagreements over Champion’s career, Hill’s 2017 suspension and criticism of Smith’s public commentary about Black women.
Stephen A. Smith’s response suggests their lengthy attempt to clear the air has not ended the dispute, with the former colleagues continuing to address one another through podcasts and social media.