Karen Hunter is not interested in turning Stephen A. Smith’s dispute with the National Association of Black Journalists into another cycle of outrage and instead, she is asking what the conversation will actually accomplish.
Hunter addressed the controversy after listeners asked for her thoughts on NABJ naming Smith one of its 2026 “Thumbs Down Award” recipients. The organization handed Smith the award, alleging that he has shown a “recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media.”
“I had made a conscious decision to not give it oxygen,” Hunter said.
Hunter, who spent much of her career as a journalist, and has a Pilitzer Prize under her belt, said she has never had a particularly close relationship with NABJ but stopped short of dismissing the organization’s harsh critique of Smith or its decision to issue the award.
“As far as the thumbs down awards, I think it was warranted,” Hunter explained. “All of the people that received them warranted.”
“What are we going to do about it other than showing these people up?” Hunter then asked. She also questioned whether an award alone could persuade powerful media figures or companies to change course.
“Do we expect, for example, CBS to go, ‘Hey, we got the thumbs down award from the NABJ. We’re going to change our whole entire focus’?”
Smith, meanwhile, has strongly rejected NABJ’s assessment. In a lengthy response, the ESPN personality acknowledged hearing the criticism before pushing back on the award.
“I’m listening. I’m far from perfect,” Smith said, adding that he would “always strive to do better on behalf of my community.”
But Smith said the accusation that he disparaged Black women was especially painful, describing receiving the award on those grounds as an insult that “might be the lowest.” Later, during an appearance on Fox News, he flatly rejected the claim.
“That did not happen. That is a flat-out lie,” Smith said.
NABJ has not backed down from its decision.
“NABJ stands by its 2026 Thumbs Down Awards and the concerns raised regarding the individuals and institutions recognized this year,” the organization said in a statement after Smith’s response.
NABJ President Errin Haines has also said she remains willing to speak with Smith directly. According to the organization, Haines did not reject a conversation with him but suggested the two speak privately before potentially having a public discussion.
“Our hope is that this leads to a meaningful dialogue, and meaningful change,” Haines expressed.
That possibility of dialogue gets to the heart of Hunter’s concern. She questioned whether repeatedly discussing Smith could simply give him more engagement without producing anything fruitful for the people rebuking him.
“When you say a person’s name, you give them life,” Hunter continued. “I’m not doing that.”
Hunter said she is not stopping guests or others on her program from discussing the controversy but does not see a reason to drive the conversation herself.
“You want them to have more of a platform or less of a platform?” Hunter asked. “What’s your goal? […] Whether we talk about it or not is not going to change the trajectory of what that person is doing because it’s working for them,” she said. “So my question to you is what should be working for us?”
Listen to the full response below.
