Stephen A Smith warns national Black journalists group ‘I’m coming’ after receiving ‘Thumbs Down’ award

ESPN personality and political commentator Stephen A. Smith says he plans to take on the National Association of Black Journalists after the organization honored him Saturday night with a "Thumbs Down" award, a distinction reserved for public figures whose commentary the group considers harmful to the Black community.

The award was presented during NABJ's Salute to Excellence Awards Gala in Atlanta, held as part of the organization's annual convention. In announcing the recognition, the group said Smith had "established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media."

"Such commentary reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in conflict with NABJ's longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities," the presentation stated, according to a video shared by Washington Association of Black Journalists President Phil Lewis.

Smith responded Sunday on X, writing: "This is the epitome of Christmas arriving early. The @NABJ wants to call folks out, fine! You had your turn, now mine is coming. And make no mistake….,I'm coming." In a follow-up post, he added: "Remember @NABJ, you asked for it. I've shut my mouth for years. Now y'all started something."

The video clip of the presentation did not name any particular women or identify specific remarks by Smith that led to the award. According to NABJ's published criteria, the "Thumbs Down" distinction is given annually to a person or organization responsible for what the group considers especially insensitive, racist, or stereotypical coverage or commentary about the Black community, or for practices contrary to NABJ's goals.

Lewis said the same award was also given to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, DuJuan McCoy, owner and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting and WISH-TV, and The Washington Post.

NABJ President Errin Haines said during the presentation that recipients are welcome to engage with the criticism and change their conduct, but that the organization intends to keep speaking out. "The door is open. The conversation is available, and the opportunity to change is real. But NABJ will not be silent. Not in this moment, and not on my watch," Haines said.

The award has drawn mixed reactions. Curtis Houck, managing editor of the conservative watchdog Media Research Center, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the award reflected a broader disconnect between journalism organizations and the public. "This charade is further proof these so-called journalist trade groups are an absolute scam," Houck said. "They exist to keep Woke 1 alive, and illuminate the reality elitist journalists are wildly disconnected from the rest of the country." He added that Smith "was exactly right to eviscerate them."

Democratic strategist and political commentator Ameshia Cross, who attended the awards dinner, also criticized the presentation. "I think NABJ wanted to trend again because that was messy for no damn reason," Cross wrote on X. "I left the awards dinner, which was otherwise a ceremony dedicated to great journalism across multiple regions and descended into petty. With thousands of unemployed Black folk in the field."

Smith, one of the most recognizable voices in sports media, has built a national following through his commentary on ESPN, including "First Take," and has increasingly weighed in on political matters in recent years. It remains unclear what specific steps he plans to take against NABJ or when.