*”First Take” host Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on the layoffs at ESPN and even suggested that his head could be next on the chopping block.
“This ain’t the end. More is coming,” Smith said on a recent episode of his podcast, Fox News Digital reports. “And yes ladies and gentlemen, I could be next.”
“Don’t ever, ever, ever in your life, as a Black person, take anything for granted. I told you before when White folks catch a cold, Black folks catch pneumonia,” Smith added.
The New York Post was the first to report that ESPN laid off about 20 on-air personalities on Friday. Many of them were longtime employees including Jalen Rose and Jeff Van Gundy.
“Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun. This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead,” ESPN told Fox News Digital.
A quick message to the haters out there pic.twitter.com/17txXHouv0
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 5, 2023
“This is an extremely challenging process, involving individuals who have had tremendous impact on our company,” ESPN continued. “These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth.”
“To see Jalen Rose gone, my brother … Done an outstanding job for us covering the NBA for years,” Smith said in response to the firings. “Got a lot of love for that brother.
“I’m going to miss him,” he continued. “Jalen Rose has always been good to me and I loved working with him on ‘NBA Countdown.’”
Smith also had a few words for critics who said he should be laid off as well.
“I’m talking directly to the people in the industry who said why isn’t Stephen A. gone? We got a few people at ESPN making more than me, they don’t have the No. 1 show, they don’t have the top ratings. They don’t generate more revenue, how come y’all aint bring their names up?”
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