Stephen A. Smith Criticized for Flirting With Colleague: ‘Turned Me On’Evolve EditorsMon, April 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC

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Stephen A. Smith was slammed for flirting with ESPN colleague Chiney Ogwumike. Smith confessed on-air that Ogwumike’s French “turned me on.” Ogwumike lightly brushed off Smith’s comments and laughed off the moment. However, the internet is of the view that Smith definitely crossed the line with Ogwumike.

Stephen A. Smith faces backlash for flirting with colleague

The internet berates Stephen A. Smith for flirting with ESPN colleague Chiney Ogwumike and making unsavory remarks towards her. Ogwumike spoke briefly in French, lavishing praise on NBA star Rudy Gobert, who was born there. She revealed she hoped that she had made French people proud with her French-speaking skills.

Smith immediately replied, “You did me proud,” as she continued with her analysis. Once Ogwumike was done, Smith remarked, “I’ve got to get a little personal for a second here, Chiney. Listen, I’m leaving the life. I’m pretty damn happy to say the last. But I must admit, in all my years on this earth, I’ve never dated a woman from France or anything like that, but after hearing Chiney, what have I been missing? What have I been missing?”

Furthermore, he said, “That verbiage right there, that kind of turned me on.” Ogwumike simply buried her face in her palms and laughed it off, as their other colleague face-palmed herself upon listening to Smith’s brazen remarks.

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One user commented, “This kind of massive overstepping is exactly why female analysts constantly struggle for respect. A male anchor openly declaring he is turned on by a female colleague highlights how women are still fundamentally viewed as basic entertainment rather than equal peers.”

A second user wrote, “Stephen A. Smith gets away with a lot of shit. Like, why even say that? Nothing good to gain. So unprofessional and inappropriate.” A third user blasted, “Chiney is your colleague and a professional athlete; reducing her linguistic skills to a romantic fantasy is disrespectful and sets a poor example for the youth watching ESPN. If you want to experience French culture, buy a plane ticket and go to Paris, but do not use a sports show to air your midlife desires.”

Finally, one user penned, “This is why every female analyst has to work twice as hard for basic respect. Keep it professional or step aside.”

Originally reported by Anwaya Mane on Mandatory.

The post Stephen A. Smith Criticized for Flirting With Colleague: ‘Turned Me On’ appeared first on Reality Tea.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”