Stephen A. Smith issued a formal apology for sharing inaccurate financial details regarding the divorce of former NBA player Iman Shumpert and Teyana Taylor. The ESPN analyst and media executive admitted that statements made on his podcast, "The Culture Table," mischaracterized the asset division between the former couple.
In a statement, Smith addressed remarks from an October episode titled "Can Men Trust Women With Their Finances?" He acknowledged that he had claimed Taylor left the divorce with $25 million, $10 million in properties, luxury cars, and other assets, while Shumpert was left with approximately $2 million and nowhere to live. Smith characterized these specific figures and characterizations as inaccurate. He stated that Straight Shooter Media, of which he is CEO, failed to properly source the information and apologized to both Shumpert and Taylor for the error.
Smith also addressed a secondary impact of the segment, expressing regret that viewers may have been left with the impression that Shumpert had publicly disparaged the mother of his children. He confirmed that the episode has been removed from circulation at his request. The apology followed his admission that he had relied on false quotes attributed to Shumpert without verification.
This incident marks the second significant controversy involving Smith in a short period. Earlier in the week, he faced backlash for comments made on "First Take" regarding Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson. Johnson retired midseason to focus on his mental health while the team struggled with its performance. Smith mocked the timing of Johnson's decision, questioning why he did not wait until the offseason or before the season began. His remarks included a sarcastic retelling of Johnson's decision to prioritize his well-being.
Smith apologized to Johnson on his podcast the same night as the "First Take" appearance and again at the start of the following day's broadcast. He clarified that his intent was not to mock mental health issues but to criticize the state of the Eagles' roster and performance. Despite this explanation, the initial comments drew criticism for their tone and timing.