Stephen A. Smith was distraught with how Monica McNutt challenged him on the set of First Take Monday.
It was an episode in something we haven’t seen on the show hosted and executively produced by Smith since Max Kellerman graced the air. But after biding her tongue for much too long, McNutt decided to throw it back in Smith’s face that as much as First Take has shown grace in covering women’s sports and the WNBA in the past calendar year, you couldn’t say the same three years ago.
Stephen A. Smith: "Who talks about the WNBA, who talks about women, who talks about women's sports more than First Take?"
Monica McNutt: "Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted to."
Stephen A.: "Wow." pic.twitter.com/szQXOPQ3h4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2024
With Smith left speechless, he waited to respond on his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show. It was there that he seemingly made comments about “making” female personalities what they are today. Sure, he’s afforded McNutt, Molly Qerim, Kimberley A. Martin, Chiney Ogwumike, and Andraya Carter opportunities to appear on his show. But to say that we now know who Monica McNutt is, amongst others, because of him and First Take is out of line.
And critics across social media made sure to point out that Smith’s comments were out of bounds.
All big East. Won Emmy’s together. Brought the Knicks content during the Pandemmy, voice of Knicks radio, and quite comfortably the best broadcast colleague I’ve ever had. Yes, I’ve heard of her bro. Have you? lol https://t.co/LMOZpIKJdU pic.twitter.com/fQURplCjaH
— Kazeem Famuyide
(@Kazeem) June 4, 2024
What a joke
Monica had co-hosted her own show on MSG. Has done color commentary for Knicks games on the radio and alongside Mike freaking Breen. She’s served as a reporter during the nba finals.
I didn’t even know she was a regular on first take until yesterday. Stephen A… https://t.co/z1BKBssLQ7
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 4, 2024
Had to dust this off – my profile on @McNuttMonica last year for the @WNBA website.
She’s BEEN here. Not new to this – true to this. We been knowing who she is.https://t.co/JvgvPXlKcM
— Dorothy J. Gentry (@DorothyJGentry) June 4, 2024
FYI: I was doing First Take before it was even called that (it was originally called Cold Pizza) and BEFORE Stephen A Smith was a regular and then a permanent co-host of the show. Now, when SAS had his show, Quite Frankly, he had me on twice, I believe. It was a huge opportunity…
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 4, 2024
“But this idea of “making” people is … odd,” Hill wrote.
Looks like the Washington Post heard of Monica ***checks notes*** 3 years ago
pic.twitter.com/3DFeCmAZvd — Jasmine Ellis (@jazadelphia) June 4, 2024
Love SAS but he’s wrong here. She didn’t say FT wasn’t a spearhead for diversity or didn’t speak on the WNBA, she said his platform could’ve had bigger discussions years ago. It’s true. @McNuttMonica was making a name for herself long b4 FT! He didn’t MAKE her. Her talents have. https://t.co/0VafMBEkN1
— Mike Hill (@ItsMikeHill) June 4, 2024
This guy’s ego is out of control.
I’ll say this: Monica McNutt, Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter are all terrific on TV.
I watch them plenty.
And I never, ever watch First Take. https://t.co/88tMsz3Go3
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 4, 2024
I might delete Twitter for June. It’s been an exhausting first few days of the month. And my account may get suspended if I tweet real thoughts
Shoutout to @McNuttMonica – an incredible talent changing the game – and the other women he rattled off. https://t.co/EYwhu7iErg
— Kim Adams (@_kimadams) June 4, 2024
With all due disrespect, @stephenasmith you and this Matt Barnes attitude can go to hell.
Obviously, get the bag and grow your brands, but I hope @McNuttMonica, @Andraya_Carter, and @chiney never grace @FirstTake with their time or presence ever again.
— Subria Whitaker (@SubriaWhitaker) June 4, 2024
While some of the criticisms are more of an attack on Smith’s character than anything, it just seems like this all could’ve been avoided had he not championed himself for “making” women at ESPN. He completely misunderstood the point McNutt was trying to make and instead took great offense to her commentary. She wasn’t denying that First Take is a platform for diversity or that the show wasn’t discussing the WNBA at large.
Her point was that the show could have done more to elevate these discussions years earlier.
And that kind of commentary shouldn’t be a one-way ticket to completely dismissing McNutt’s talent preceding her time on First Take. She wasn’t created by the show; her skills have always been there. The same with the aforementioned female hosts and analysts above. Sure, First Take has given them a platform to shine, but would a director be taking credit for making an actor or actress because of their film’s success? Maybe partially, but that would completely undermine their standalone talent — one that’s always been there.
So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that comments implying he “made” McNutt, and by extension other female analysts, were met with swift condemnation. And while First Take undeniably provides a platform for these talented individuals, McNutt’s challenge exposed a missed opportunity for earlier and more impactful discussions on the WNBA.
Smith did address this again on First Take Tuesday, saying he fights for his colleagues:
Stephen A. Smith wants everyone to know he fights for his First Take colleagues.
“There’s warfare going on. Some people are on the front lines. Others chip about being there and then they go hide. But they the ones that squeak the loudest. That’s the stuff that irritates… pic.twitter.com/eEStYjlPsF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 4, 2024
But that’s not to say that Smith “made” them. Even if First Take undeniably offers a valuable platform for these accomplished women to reach a wider audience.