Stephen A. Smith blasts ESPN’s Ryan Clark layoff
Stephen A. Smith said on YouTube that he told ESPN bosses he was angry over Ryan Clark’s exit and called Clark a rare friend at the network.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Stephen A. Smith is not shrugging off Ryan Clark’s ESPN exit.
The “First Take” host used a lengthy YouTube video Tuesday to say he was angry about ESPN parting ways with Clark, the former NFL safety and analyst he described as both an elite broadcaster and a close friend.
Smith said in the video that he will miss Clark and that ESPN management already knows how he feels. “I am not happy about this decision one bit,” Smith said, adding that he had made that clear to his bosses.
Clark’s departure became public in awkward fashion. TMZ Sports reported that Clark and ESPN agreed he should not finish Monday’s episode of “NFL Live” after a report surfaced during the show about his expected layoff.
Smith said he understands that layoffs happen in television and that he has seen them before during his years at ESPN. This one, he said, landed differently because of his personal bond with Clark.
“There’s nobody that’s going to be let go that was more of a friend and a brother to me than Ryan Clark,” Smith said in the video.
Smith praises Clark’s TV chops
Smith framed Clark as more than a former co-worker. He praised Clark’s debating skill and said conversations with him made Smith sharper afterward.
In the video, Smith called Clark conscientious, thoughtful, sincere, real and authentic. He also said he had to restrain himself from responding more forcefully to criticism of Clark, arguing that people taking shots at him do not know him.
Smith suggested he wished he had the clout to prevent Clark from losing his ESPN role. He said he wanted to be in a position with enough influence or power to save Clark’s job, but indicated that was not how the decision played out.
During the video, Smith also showed a chart covering recent layoffs at ESPN. He said the era when ESPN could hire as broadly as it once did is “long gone.”
Smith still predicted Clark will rebound, saying another media company would be fortunate to bring him aboard.
Clark addresses affected colleagues
Clark has since said he is sending his best to other colleagues affected by the cuts, according to TMZ Sports.
The exit marks a notable shake-up around “NFL Live,” where Clark had been part of ESPN’s football coverage. Smith’s public reaction put one of ESPN’s biggest on-air names directly at odds with the decision, even while he acknowledged the business realities behind layoffs.
Clark has not been reported in the account as giving a detailed public explanation of what happened during Monday’s show. Smith’s comments came through his own YouTube channel, where he laid out his frustration and his support for his former colleague.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.