Mina Kimes Apologizes for Promoting Controversial Solitaire App
Mina Kimes, an ESPN NFL analyst, took to social media on Saturday to apologize for supporting Solitaire Cash, a solitaire app linked to its parent company, Papaya Gaming, which is facing legal challenges.
This controversial company has been found guilty of defrauding customers in real-money skill games. Recently, a court allowed them to use bots in games that are supposed to be for human players, which means those bots could decide outcomes without human input.
“Honestly, I didn’t look into this enough. It’s completely my fault,” Kimes wrote on X. “I thought it was just standard marketing and I’m really embarrassed that I didn’t do proper research. I admit, that was a big mistake.” In another post, she mentioned her lack of financial gain from the app, saying, “I haven’t been paid anything, though we’ll see what happens.” I guess if it comes through, I’ll definitely let you know.
It’s worth noting that other ESPN personalities, including Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins, and Dan Orlovsky, have also endorsed the app, yet they haven’t taken down their posts about it. In fact, former ESPN analyst Michelle Beadle criticized Smith for his role as an ambassador for Papaya Gaming, making no bones about her feelings towards him during a podcast appearance.
“Everyone knows how I feel about that person,” she said on “Beadle & Decker.”
Beadle further expressed her disdain, stating, “I may not be a religious person, but I genuinely hope for consequences here. It’s outrageous. There should be some principle at stake.” Interestingly, Smith’s affiliation with the app surfaced after he was seen playing solitaire on his phone while covering NBA Finals Game 4 between the Thunder and Pacers.
On Monday, he even shared an AI-generated advertisement poking fun at that notable moment, promoting Solitaire Cash. Beadle commented, “ESPN pays him a ton for making mistakes and yelling. He got caught playing solitaire during the Finals, which is, well, his specialty.” And to add insult to injury, she continued, “He made fun of you for handing him a blank check initially, not addressing the huge deals he’s under. Now he’s trying to turn it into a business opportunity that feels a bit sketchy to start with.”
