Stephen A. Smith Feels Shannon Sharpe’s Viral Fame Made Him A Target

Stephen A. Smith is standing firmly behind his First Take co-host Shannon Sharpe amid growing controversy, expressing disappointment over the recent public scrutiny and backlash Sharpe has faced after being hit with sexual assault allegations.

During an interview with radio host Big Boy, Smith addressed the ongoing sexual assault lawsuit filed against Sharpe, and how he believes the fervent reaction from some in the media and elsewhere is no coincidence.

“People have been after him since he did Katt Williams,” the Queens, N.Y. native said, referring to the explosive interview in which Williams delivered unfiltered takes on various celebrities and his career, garnering millions of views within days of its release in January 2024.

“They’ve been at his neck because of the numbers he produced and the success that it had and how he was able to ride that wave,” Smith said.

Smith didn’t shy away from calling out what he sees as a malicious wave of backlash aimed at Sharpe. While acknowledging that public discussion of the lawsuit is inevitable, Smith criticized the tone and energy some critics have brought to the conversation.

“I’m not talking about what people are talking about and what they have to talk about, I’m talking about the zest with which they do it,” he stated.

“You see a joy that some people are having in going at him and that’s sad. You can talk about it, but we know the difference, in terms of the flavor that you’re bringing to an equation where you’re talking about somebody with glee and joy in your voice when you’re talking about the kind of predicament they’re in. And that’s what I’ve got a problem with.”

Smith concluded by sharing his concern not only for Sharpe personally but for the impact this could have on First Take. “To see the great things that he has been doing and to know the potential is out there for all of this to be derailed, I’m incredibly sad for him.

“I’m sad for us as a show ’cause we’re better with him than without him, but right now, it’s about him getting his house in order and doing what he can to get past all of this.”

Sharpe’s massively viral Club Shay Shay interview with comedian Katt Williams, which aired in January 2024, quickly became a cultural moment, positioning Club Shay Shay as a dominant force and elevating Sharpe’s public profile significantly.

Sharpe, a former NFL star-turned-sports commentator, has been embroiled in controversy since a lawsuit was filed by against him by a Jane Doe, who alleges that he sexually assaulted her after they began dating in 2023, when the alleged victim was 19-year-old.

The $50M lawsuit, which publicly surfaced in April 2025, includes serious accusations that have not only sparked widespread media attention, but also cast a shadow over Sharpe’s reputation and burgeoning media career.

See Stephen A. Smith’s interview with Big Boy below.