Overview
- Reid told Cari Champion that Smith is rewarded for voicing “nasty things” about Black people, especially Black women, rather than for audience numbers.
- She argued Smith’s pay outstrips his viewership, saying he got “$100 million” despite having “half my ratings at my worst,” citing her own look at his numbers.
- Coverage notes The Athletic’s reporting that Smith has a five-year $105 million ESPN deal and a separate SiriusXM contract, with additional revenue from digital platforms.
- Smith previously said Reid was let go because “nobody was watching her show” and insisted “the numbers don’t lie” in comments on his YouTube show.
- Analyses emphasize that First Take leads sports TV in its late-morning slot, whereas Reid’s program aired in primetime, making direct ratings comparisons imperfect, and outlets reported no new response from Smith to Reid’s latest remarks as of Dec. 11.