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ESPN host and political commentator Stephen A. Smith vowed Sunday to confront the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) after it gave him a “Thumbs Down” award at the group’s Saturday night gala in Atlanta because of what it characterized as his repeated disparagement of prominent Black women.
Smith framed the award as the beginning of a broader dispute with the organization.
“This is the epitome of Christmas arriving early. The @NABJ wants to call folks out, fine! You had your turn, now mine is coming. And make no mistake…..,I’m coming,” Smith said in a post on X.
SPN reporter and analyst Stephen A. Smith is seen on the set of “First Take” on February 6, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
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Smith also indicated that he planned to scrutinize NABJ’s own record after remaining silent about the organization for years.
“Remember @NABJ, you asked for it. I’ve shut my mouth for years. Now y’all started something,” Smith said.
The NABJ announced the decision during its Salute to Excellence Awards Gala at the organization’s annual convention. A video of the presentation was shared by Washington Association of Black Journalists President Phil Lewis. Lewis also said that the NABJ presented the disparaging award to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, DuJuan McCoy, owner and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting and WISH-TV, and The Washington Post.
“Smith has established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media,” the award presentation said.
Stephen A. Smith arrives for the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on June 28, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)
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“Such commentary reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ’s longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities,” it continued.
NABJ’s published criteria said the annual distinction goes to a person or organization responsible for especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical coverage or commentary about the Black community, or practices contrary to NABJ’s goals. The clip online did not identify any particular women or remark(s) made by Smith behind the decision.
NABJ President Errin Haines said recipients could respond to the criticism and change their conduct, but the organization said it would continue speaking publicly.
“The door is open. The conversation is available, and the opportunity to change is real. But NABJ will not be silent. Not in this moment, and not on my watch,” Haines said during the presentation.
Stephen A. Smith speaks onstage during the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit at Ray Charles Performing Arts Center Morehouse College on October 9, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
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An editor for the conservative watchdog, the Media Research Center, told Fox News Digital Sunday that the award reflected what he viewed as a broader disconnect between journalism organizations and the public.
“This charade is further proof these so-called journalist trade groups are an absolute scam. They exist to keep Woke 1 alive, and illuminate the reality elitist journalists are wildly disconnected from the rest of the country,” NewsBusters Managing Editor Curtis Houck said.
“Stephen A. Smith was exactly right to eviscerate them. Smith is known as someone who can be a bloviator, but he also calls out all sides if he feels they did something wrong. It’s a lesson those in the NABJ should take a page from instead of masquerading as clownish activists,” he added.
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Democratic strategist and political commentator Ameshia Cross, who attended the awards dinner, criticized NABJ’s presentation.
“I think NABJ wanted to trend again because that was messy for no damn reason,” Cross said on X. “I left the awards dinner, which was otherwise a ceremony dedicated to great journalism across multiple regions and descended into petty…with thousands of unemployed Black folk in the field.”
