Why 2026 has been ‘very, very difficult’ for $100M ESPN host Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith opened up about his very tough year on his SiriusXM show.

The normally upbeat and ready-for-a-debate Smith took a serious tone instead in his latest episode of “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.”

He began to address a joke made at his expense by friend Kevin Hart during the Netflix roast that put Smith and others on the Mt. Rushmore of racism, alongside Shane Gillis, Kid Rock and Hulk Hogan.

Smith was okay with the joke, but what really rubbed ESPN’s $100 million personality the wrong way was the person who told it.

“I have no issue with the joke if it was a joke. If it wasn’t a joke, I still wouldn’t have an issue with it,” Smith said. “I have an issue with the fact that it came from him, somebody that I kind of know a little bit, that got a lot of love and respect for.”

Smith explained that the joke also hurt because it reinforced perceived notions that contradicted what he actually believes.

“At a time in my life, knowing I’ve spent my life fighting on behalf of my community, that people try to continue this narrative about me that I know is false, but that nevertheless still hurts to hear out of the mouth of anyone who knows me,” Smith said.

This issue with the joke led the conversation into his political beliefs and a wild claim that he’s being “silenced” for his political views.

“I’m not gonna front and ignore and fail to acknowledge that this year has been very, very difficult for me,” Smith claimed. “From the standpoint that even though I’ve been very, very blessed and fortunate to secure my future in ways that I never thought imaginable, first at ESPN and then here at SiriusXM, the flip side to that is that I’ve taken a lot of heat because of perceived positions that I may have had. And as a result, you’ve had some people from the Democratic Party who don’t know that I’m aware of the steps and the lengths that they’ve been willing to go through to silence me, even though I’m somebody that has religiously voted Democrat and I support most Democratic views.”

The host of ESPN’s “First Take” has not been shy about sharing his views on politics on his numerous outlets, including his regret over voting for Kamala Harris, his views on the war in Iran and the absence of leadership in both parties.

In February, he told CBS News that he was mulling a potential run for the highest office in the land before putting end to that speculation.

“I don’t think I’m running either because I’ve got to give up my money,” Smith told Fox’s Sean Hannity.

“Let me put the presidential aspirations to bed. If I have to give up my money, it’s not happening.”