ESPN’s Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith, two of the sports network’s biggest television stars, recently engaged in an explosive argument over creative differences, according to a report from Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post.
Per Glasspiegel, McAfee called Smith a “motherf-----” after the two disagreed on the path of a project that Smith is working on through his own production company, Mr. SAS Productions, that will air on ESPN.
The argument got so heated, that Smith banned McAfee from appearing on his show, First Take, where McAfee had weekly Tuesday appearances scheduled during the football season.
When Smith and McAfee were reached for comment, Glasspiegel was told that their “animosity was resolved.”
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
“I have nothing but love for Stephen A.,” McAfee told the New York Post. “I think I’m still welcome on First Take. I was scheduled through football season to join on Tuesdays, hopefully next year that’ll happen as well.”
Smith confirmed that everything was fine between him and McAfee.
“Pat McAfee and I have no issue and the notion that he’d be banned from First Take is B.S.,” Smith said. “We are No. 1 and he has absolutely contributed to us remaining No. 1. McAfee was asked to come on each Tuesday through the Super Bowl and he did just that, kicking ass each time he came on the air. If McAfee wants to be on First Take next season, he will be on First Take. I love winners and McAfee has proven he wins, which helps ME win.”
Smith later said that he hoped that he “will not have to repeat [himself] on this nonsense again!”
All’s well that ends well? Even if there was a disagreement, it certainly sounds like it’s water under the bridge between two of ESPN’s most prominent media stars.
