Overview
- The first part of a multi-hour Flagrant and Funny interview with Stephen A. Smith, Jemele Hill and Cari Champion was released Wednesday and drew widespread coverage.
- Cari Champion directly accused Smith of lying about blocking her from roles at ESPN and rejected his claims that he helped advance her career.
- Jemele Hill pressed Smith over his decisions to interview conservative figures and appear on Fox News, singling out his conversation with Ben Shapiro as harmful to Black audiences.
- Smith defended a muted public response to President Trump as a strategic choice to win access, and he said he was contacted last year by someone pretending to be Cari Champion.
- The episode revives scrutiny that began with the NABJ’s recent rebuke of Smith, could affect his professional relationships and bookings, and leaves the media industry watching for the promised second installment.