Stephen A. Smith Receives NABJ’s Thumbs Down Award for ‘Disparaging Commentary’ of Black Women
The organization says Smith "undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse" The post Stephen A. Smith Receives NABJ’s Thumbs Down Award for ‘Disparaging Commentary’ of Black Women appeared first on TheWrap .
On Saturday evening, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) bestowed upon ESPN host Stephen A. Smith the Thumbs Down award, a recognition for his ongoing "disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports and media." The decision to honor Smith came to light during the NABJ's Salute to Excellence gala, held in Atlanta, Georgia.
A commentator made the announcement, stating that Smith's remarks not only perpetuate harmful narratives but also undermine the fair and respectful portrayal of Black women in public discourse, actions that directly contradict the NABJ's dedication to truthful, responsible, and inclusive journalism.
The Thumbs Down award is bestowed upon entities or individuals whose actions, reporting, or institutional practices significantly undermine fair, accurate, and inclusive journalism concerning Black communities or operate fundamentally contrary to the NABJ's mission and values. This year, Smith was joined by other recipients, including FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, The Washington Post, and DuJuan McCoy, the CEO of Indianapolis-based Circle City Broadcasting.
The NABJ explained the award's intent during the gala: it aims to recognize conduct that harms Black journalists, diminishes newsroom equity, endorses damaging depictions of Black individuals, or jeopardizes journalism's public service mission.
Following the gala, Smith took to social media to respond to the award. In a post, he declared, "The NABJ started something," and added that the award was "the epitome of Christmas arriving early." He expressed a sense of readiness for confrontation, stating, "You had your turn, now mine is coming. And make no mistake…..,I'm coming.
Let’s see who REALLY deserves a Thumbs Down award when it comes to the Black Community, after I say my peace!" This statement, posted on August 16, 2026, marked Smith's public declaration of intent to challenge the NABJ's decision, setting the stage for a forthcoming exchange on the matter.
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