Stephen A. Smith had to issue two apologies last week after insensitive comments about Lane Johnson’s mental health, but he had another mistake to own up to earlier this week.
The ESPN mogul recently helped launch a new podcast, “The Culture Table,” and in a recent episode, Smith discussed the divorce of former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Iman Shumpert and Teyana Taylor.
On his own self-named podcast, Smith admitted to sharing “inaccurate” information about their divorce.
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Stephen A. Smith speaks on stage as he and Christopher Russo host SiriusXM shows live from Fanatics Fest at Javits Center on July 17, 2026, in New York City. (Getty Images for SiriusXM)
“In the interest of fairness, accuracy, and decency, I believe it’s important to address what happened in an October episode of ‘The Culture Table’ titled, ‘Can Men Trust Women With Their Finances?’ During that episode, I stated that Teyana Taylor walked away from her divorce with $25 million, $10 million in properties, luxury cars, and other assets, while Iman Shumpert, her ex-husband, was left with approximately $2 million and nowhere to live. Those statements were inaccurate, and I want to sincerely apologize to both Iman Shumpert and Teyana Taylor.
“Straight Shooter Media and I as the CEO have a responsibility to ensure that information presented is properly sourced. We didn’t meet that standard here, plain and simple.”
Smith admitted he believed false quotes that were attributed to Shumpert and said he apologized to both of them personally. The episode has been taken down at Smith’s request, he said.
Recording artist Teyana Taylor and New York Knicks player Iman Shumpert attend 106 & Park on Nov. 3, 2014, in New York City. (Getty Images for BET)
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“I also regret that the segment may have left viewers with the impression that Iman had publicly disparaged the mother of his children,” Smith added.
This apology comes just days after Smith appeared to poke fun at the aforementioned Johnson, now a former Philadelphia Eagles lineman, retiring midseason to focus on his mental health in the midst of the Birds’ struggles.
“Now he calls it quits. Not before the season. Not in the offseason,” Smith said in a recent episode of “First Take.” ” … Four games into the 2026 season, a dude that has been in the league forever sits back and says, ‘I need to focus on my mental health.’ Am I making it up?”
Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles is in action against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 28, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Smith doubled down, mocking the timing of Lane’s decision: “And this brother said, ‘Hey, my life matters. It’s time. I’m gonna call it quits. My mental health. My mental.’ Lord!”
Smith hopped on his podcast that night to apologize to Johnson and “for the misunderstanding regarding [his] comments.” A further apology came at the beginning of the next day’s “First Take” episode. Smith had even made sure to note shortly after his crack on Johnson that he was not “mak[ing] light of mental health issues” but instead “making light of the Philadelphia Eagles’ trashy situation right now.”
OutKick’s Alejandro Avila contributed to this report.
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