Stephen A. Smith parts ways with contentious Solitaire business

Stephen A. Smith Ends Partnership with Papaya Gaming

Stephen A. Smith has parted ways with Papaya Gaming, the creator of the solitaire game he promoted while serving as an ambassador for the upcoming World Solitaire Championship (WSC).

Smith stated, “Papaya and I have mutually agreed to end our partnership,” highlighting the decision made together. This announcement came after ESPN had reportedly instructed other on-air personalities, like Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky, to cut ties with Papaya as well.

According to reports, ESPN’s headquarters was previously unaware of the existing relationship with Papaya and did not authorize the marketing campaign surrounding the game.

Kimes publicly apologized last month for her involvement with the “#BeatStephen Challenge” related to Smith and Papaya. She admitted on X, “I really didn’t dig into it properly. It’s entirely my fault. I thought it was an ordinary marketing approach and I’m quite embarrassed for not doing my due diligence. It was a colossal failure on my part.”

Smith is set to serve as the official ambassador for the inaugural World Solitaire Championship, scheduled for February 2026.

The backdrop of this situation includes Papaya’s ongoing legal battle with mobile gaming competitor Skills. Documents reveal that Skills filed a lawsuit last March, accusing Papaya of using bots that mimicked human players between 2019 and at least November 2023. This alleged scheme reportedly led to fraudulent advertising that hindered user success.

Interestingly, Smith’s engagement with the app originated when he was spotted playing solitaire on his phone during the NBA Finals while covering the event for ESPN. Former ESPN personality Michelle Beadle criticized Smith’s involvement, expressing her discontent with him. “ESPN pays him a lot for making mistakes and shouting,” she commented, referring to Smith’s $21 million contract. “He got caught playing solitaire during the finals, which I guess is his forte.” Beadle felt that Smith’s actions represented a misguided attempt to monetize a flawed endeavor.