In a leaked audio provided to O’Keefe Media Group from an anonymous source, ESPN producer Ryan Bertrand can be heard making disparaging remarks about sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, questioning his credibility for political commentary, on-air persona, and recent actions involving LeBron James.
“He [Smith] goes on Fox News probably like once a week, and he’ll talk about like, Gaza,” revealed Bertrand, adding, “He has no idea about Gaza, but for whatever reason, Fox News will have him do a ten-minute conversation with their anchor.” Colleagues at ESPN reportedly find it baffling: “We’re like, brother, you were just talking about the Lakers, like, three hours ago. Like, what do you know about Gaza?”
He goes on to describe Smith’s TV persona as a calculated act, adding, “He plays the angry black man on TV.” Bertrand elaborates, “It’s more how loud you are and how you deliver your speech,” explaining that the stereotype hinges on being loud and overbearing.
The audio also sheds light on LeBron James confronting Smith over repeated commentary about his son, Bronny James. “Stephen A. had been talking about LeBron’s son for, like, a while,” Bertrand explained. “Long story short, LeBron confronted him at a game one time and basically said, ‘Stop talking sh*t about my son.’”
Following the confrontation, Smith reportedly tried to control the narrative through media appearances: “Ever since that, Stephen A. has been on like four different podcasts, basically like, ‘I thought it was a weak move coming up to me,’ and whatnot. It’s just this whole embarrassing thing that we’re all rolling our eyes at.”
According to Bertrand, within ESPN, Smith is seen as someone who thrives on stirring controversy. “They [ESPN Staff] just think he’s crazy. Just trying to create attention,” Bertrand stated. “Which is his job, I guess. He gets paid a lot of money to do that.” Bertrand even likened Smith to a media opportunist, agreeing he’s a “grifter:” “[Smith is] very much ‘whoever’s buying my bullsh*t, I will sell you my bullsh*t.’ Which, it’s like Fox News sometimes, I guess.”
O’Keefe Media Group has reached out to Ryan Bertrand, Stephen A. Smith, and ESPN for comment regarding the leaked audio.
