Stephen A Smith ‘still salty’ as he hits back at Michelle Obama for comparing ESPN debates to reality TV

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Stephen A Smith is firing back at Michelle Obama after the former first lady took a swipe at ESPN and doubled down on past comments urging voters not to support Donald Trump.

During a recent episode of her brother Craig Robinson’s 'In My Opinion' podcast, Obama likened the culture of ESPN programming and Smith himself to the drama-filled world of reality TV.

Michelle Obama compared ESPN shows to 'The Real Housewives' drama

“If I listen to ESPN for an hour, it’s like watching 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Obama said. “It’s the same drama, and they’re yelling at each other, and they don’t get along. I mean, Stephen A Smith—he’s just like every other... So that’s why I’m like, ‘What’s the difference?’ It’s just, you know, it’s just sociological drama.”

“I mean, the fact that people, over seasons of working, still can’t get along. They still have the same arguments, you know—and it’s not just women. But this happens in sports, too. I find it fascinating,” she added.

Stephen A Smith pushes back at Michelle Obama’s ESPN comments

Stephen A Smith responded during a recent broadcast of 'First Take,' using the moment not just to address the ESPN comparison, but to revisit a deeper frustration he had with something Obama said while campaigning for Kamala Harris in 2020.

“When you were campaigning on behalf of the former Vice President Kamala Harris … you said a vote for Trump was a vote against you and a vote against y’all as women. I want to say for the record—I took major offense to that,” Smith said. “I think to this day is the only thing that I didn’t like that you said, I didn’t appreciate it. Because there’s so many things that go into deciding where your vote is going to go.”

“For some people, it’s all about the economy. For others, it’s all about national security. For some people, it is immigration. For some people, it’s safety in the streets of America. Long before they think about pro-choice or pro-life,” he added.

Smith reiterated that he voted for Harris and made it clear he “wouldn't vote for Trump,” but admitted he “wasn't excited” about casting his ballot for the former vice president. His hesitancy, he said, stemmed from “some of the shenanigans that the Democratic Party was engaging in leading up to the election.”

He continued: “But I’m talking specifically to you, Madam first lady. You are not just beloved, you are revered. You are sensational in so many ways. I’ve been on the record on this show and many others stating had you run for president, you would have beat Trump. I still believe that … I believe if your husband elected to come back, he would beat Trump. That’s my personal belief."

Stephen A Smith fires back at Michelle Obama’s ‘reality TV’ comment

ESPN host Stephen A Smith has responded to recent comments by former first lady Michelle Obama, who suggested that sports programming—including shows like his own—closely resembles reality television.

Smith defended ESPN and the authenticity of live sports programming. “So this doesn’t have anything to do with what you were talking about, how sports and reality TV mirror one another, even though we would beg to differ. Because a lot of things on reality TV are made-up situations and scenarios to provoke reactions and all of that stuff. We’re at sports—that’s live entertainment—and you’re actually competing against one another, it’s big time. No, reality TV is not like that. You’re so wrong about that assertion, but that’s neither here nor there.”

While maintaining his respect for Obama, Smith made his stance clear: “You will never hear me utter a negative word about you,” he said. “But I respectfully disagreed and still remain pretty salty about what you said about us.”