Former ESPN Colleague’s SPOLITICS Live Remarks Follow NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Jemele Hill has a problem with Stephen A. Smith, and she’s not afraid to say it. On the latest episode of SPOLITICS Live, the former ESPN host laid out a detailed case: Smith does not keep the same energy. She pointed to his silence when Donald Trump attacked him, his silence when Michelle Beadle criticized him, and his sharp, public intensity when the critic is Black.
The four-minute clip, posted on X by @Thechat101, has received over 390,000 views. Hill’s remarks come in the wake of the National Association of Black Journalists awarding Smith its Thumbs Down Award, which cited a “recurring public pattern of disparaging public commentary directed at prominent Black women.” Smith has called the award a smear job.
The Pattern Hill Says She’s Observed
Hill said the reason she has had problems with some of the things Stephen A. has said is that he does not keep the same energy when it comes to his white critics. Then, she details specific instances of silence on his part.
She references Donald Trump calling Stephen A. stupid. Hill went into detail about Trump having called him low IQ and insulting his intelligence. She notes that people were wondering whether Smith would respond with the same level of intensity he directed toward Representative Jasmine Crockett, and states that he did not. The contrast is between the expected “Jasmine Crockett energy” and what she characterizes as total non-response to Trump.
She continues by addressing Michelle Beadle’s ongoing criticism of Smith. Hill states that Beadle constantly criticizes him, that Beadle has said she actively roots for his demise, and that Beadle has called him everything but a child of God. The criticism from Beadle is very personal. Hill emphasizes that Beadle made it personal and said it was personal. She then contrasts this with Smith’s response: nothing, total silence.
The argument is structured to highlight differential treatment based on the identity of the critic. Hill positions the silence toward Trump and Beadle against Smith’s more forceful engagement when the person being criticized is Black.
The NABJ Award That Sparked the Conversation
The immediate trigger for Jemele Hill’s video is the National Association of Black Journalists presenting Stephen A. with its Thumbs Down Award on August 16. The organization cited a “recurring public pattern of disparaging public commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports and media.” NABJ stated that such commentary reinforces harmful narratives and undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women.
Smith responded publicly in the days following. First, he called the award the epitome of Christmas arriving early. Then, he stated that NABJ had its turn and now his was coming. Finally, he warned that he would address who really deserves a Thumbs Down. He later described the award as BS, a hit job, a smear job, and the lowest insult he had received. He characterized it as political, driven by liberals and Democrats who dislike his commentary, and rejected the characterization that he disparages Black women.
NABJ leadership, including President Errin Haines, defended the decision as a matter of accountability and noted that concerns extended beyond any single individual.
Shared History Between Jemele Hill and Stephen A. Smith
Jemele Hill and Stephen A. Smith have a multi-year history of public commentary on each other that is nuanced rather than uniformly adversarial. Hill worked at ESPN in various roles, including co-hosting with Michael Smith on His & Hers and SC6. She left the network in 2018.
In prior appearances, Hill has criticized Smith for what she described as taking “weird ownership” or putting “a lot of cap” on claims of having built the careers of Black women journalists. She has said such claims make her cringe and are unbecoming, while also acknowledging that Smith has provided platforms and opportunities.
Hill has repeatedly stated she holds no personal animosity or “beef” with Smith. She positions him as someone who has exhibited commitment to Black journalism, citing his HBCU background at Winston-Salem State and earlier support for Black columnists. She has expressed hope that he can accept fair critiques.
Examples That Made Her Point
Michelle Beadle, another former ESPN personality, has a documented history of sharp public criticism of Stephen A. Smith dating back years. Beadle has made personal remarks about disliking Smith and, in more recent commentary, statements about rooting for his professional difficulties.
Donald Trump has publicly insulted Smith’s intelligence on multiple occasions, including references to low IQ or stupidity in the context of political or media commentary. Smith’s “Jasmine Crockett energy” refers to his prior pointed public criticism of the Texas congresswoman, which drew significant backlash for tone and framing.
These prior events form the specific examples Hill invokes when arguing that Smith’s response intensity varies. The broader professional relationship between Hill and Smith includes periods of collegiality, public acknowledgments of mutual contributions to Black journalism, and recurring points of disagreement.
X Echoes Hill’s Sentiments Towards Stephen A.
The post received 9,127 likes, 1,547 reposts, and over 390,000 views on X. Reactions were mixed but leaned toward affirmation of Hill’s core observation among many users who view Smith’s intensity as selective.
Several replies echoed the claim that Smith remains silent or restrained when facing criticism from Trump or white figures such as Beadle, while deploying stronger language toward Black critics or subjects. One reply noted that Trump called Smith low IQ with no comparable response, framing Smith as an “attack dog for white racist[s].” Another asserted that the pattern holds when “whites mess up.”
Counter-responses defended Smith by arguing that the NABJ award itself was not framed around “same energy,” that audiences rely on edited clips, or that Hill’s critique is itself inconsistent or politically driven. A smaller set of replies focused on Hill’s appearance or dismissed the entire discussion as recycled narrative.
High-engagement shares and quote posts tended to reinforce the selective-energy framing, while defensive posts emphasized Smith’s history of supporting Black journalists or rejected the NABJ characterization outright.
The Bigger Conversation
The exchange sits within ongoing debates in sports media about consistency of public criticism and the boundaries of acceptable commentary on Black public figures. Smith’s elevated platform amplifies the visibility of any perceived double standard, turning individual rhetorical choices into larger discussions about accountability within high-profile Black media voices.
Hill’s critique, coming from a former colleague who has both praised aspects of Smith’s career and detailed specific objections, underscores tensions between personal professional history and public evaluation of patterns. The sustained public attention on these exchanges contributes to ongoing examination of how sports media personalities navigate political terrain.
The episode raises questions about whether organizations like NABJ can effectively set standards for commentary without being perceived as partisan, and whether individual commentators maintain consistent standards when the critic or subject differs by race, gender, or political affiliation.
The post Jemele Hill says Stephen A. Smith goes silent on Trump and Beadle, attacks Black critics [VIDEO] appeared first on Hip Hop Vibe.
source https://hip-hopvibe.com/news/jemele-hill-explains-her-frustration-with-stephen-a-smith/
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