Stephen A. Smith Upset About OutKick Article on Reunion with Skip Bayless
Stephen A. Smith expressed his displeasure regarding an OutKick article that discussed his upcoming reunion with Skip Bayless. He mentioned on his radio show, “The day is not just about Skip Bayless returning to ‘First Take,’ but also involves talking about things like Fox News and the recent drop in ratings.”
This comment followed an OutKick column published the day before, which highlighted Bayless rejoining Smith on “First Take” and referenced ESPN’s declining ratings.
Smith elaborated, stating, “He’s returning because I wanted him to be here, at least for a day. It’s been ten years since I last had him on. And sure, ratings may be down, but we’re still number one and have experienced record ratings for the past five years. Eventually, there’s a cap on how many records you can break.”
He also noted that most of ESPN’s daily shows are witnessing growth, while “First Take” is lagging behind. ESPN recently highlighted that “Get Up” has increased by 18% and “The Pat McAfee Show” by 16%. In contrast, “First Take” only saw a 5% increase—quite below what most shows are achieving.
Interestingly, while discussing ratings, reports indicate that NBA playoff views aren’t at a 33-year high, further hinting at the show’s difficulties. Alongside this, “First Take” is distanced from many other ESPN shows. It continues to tackle various topical issues, and Smith hinted that this might not be a coincidence.
It’s noted that ESPN executives are keeping a close eye on “First Take’s” declining ratings, especially after signing Smith to a five-year, $100 million deal. They’re not compensating him for past performance but rather for future expectations.
Throughout his discussion, Smith claimed he’s “still number one,” a claim that’s perplexing since “First Take” isn’t even at the top of its timeslot. In fact, shows on Fox News have surged ahead, with “First Take” not being the leader within ESPN even, with “PTI” taking that spot.
While it’s true Bayless hasn’t appeared on TV with Smith for almost a decade, the narrative around their reunion is mixed. Bayless had shown interest in coming back, and Smith stated he jumped at the recent opportunity. Yet, what’s not frequently mentioned is why it took so long for this reunion to happen. Essentially, Smith had often pushed back against the idea of Bayless returning since he departed FS1 years ago.
Smith remarked, “ESPN didn’t consult me on Skip Bayless,” suggesting that if consulted, he would have echoed the network’s decision about not bringing him back. He emphasized, “Skip and I were partners in the past, but that time is done. No negativity towards him, I’ve simply moved on.”
This part seems accurate. Smith has repeatedly conveyed he had no intention of bringing Bayless back on “First Take,” which coincidentally aligns with the time when ratings started to slide.
In a previous exchange, Smith told me he was “done” discussing certain matters. It’s unclear if that still stands. Perhaps he might be willing to elaborate further, and I’d be eager to provide him with that opportunity—both personally and through OutKick. I hope he considers it.
