Overview
- In a Naked Sports podcast conversation released Dec. 10, Reid said Smith is compensated to “say the nasty things about Black people” and to put attacks on Black women “in the mouth of a Negro.”
- Reid rejected Smith’s assertion that she lost her MSNBC show because of low viewership, arguing he receives enormous pay despite lower audience numbers than hers at her worst.
- Smith previously said “Nobody was watching her show” and “the numbers don’t lie” when attributing her exit to ratings on his own program.
- Coverage cites The Athletic’s reporting that Smith’s income approaches $40 million a year, including a five-year $105 million ESPN deal and a three-year $36 million SiriusXM contract, plus digital revenue.
- Reports note recent instances of Smith criticizing Michelle Obama, Cari Champion, Jemele Hill, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, as discussions highlight how time slots and platforms complicate direct ratings comparisons.