During a recent interview on The Joe Budden Podcast, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith criticized his former co-worker Max Kellerman and revealed that he was the reason Kellerman was removed from ESPN’s First Take in September 2021. Smith expressed his dislike for working with Kellerman, citing that he thought the show was stale and lacked appeal to the public. He mentioned that Kellerman’s lack of athletic or journalistic background raised questions about his credibility.
Smith disclosed that he approached the management and offered to leave the show if Kellerman was deemed essential by the network. Shortly after, the decision was made to make a change. Smith clarified that his decision was purely business-driven and not personal.
This is not the first time Smith has spoken about his dissatisfaction with working alongside Kellerman. He had previously mentioned that their partnership had run its course and needed to change. The decision to part ways was based on the recognition that they were not a great pairing anymore.
