Search
Close this search box.

‘First Take’ Staff Frustrated by Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe’s Dominance

Shannon Sharpe on First Take
Stephen A. Smith & Shannon Sharpe / Getty

*Rumors are emerging about ESPN’s “First Take” being dominated by Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe, leading to tension among the staff. 

The Sun reports, citing anonymous sources, that the focus on Smith and Sharpe has made other panelists feel marginalized, creating a tense work environment. The show, which features a rotating panel including top ESPN analysts like Monica McNutt and Kendrick Perkins, has been affected by internal frustrations. Some staff members joked about creating shirts that read “Stephen and Shannon versus the World” as a sign of their discontent. 

Smith’s contract is set to expire in 2025 and his recent display of influence on the show has drawn public criticism.

“A lot of people are fed up with their behavior and the way they run things,” one employee revealed to The Sun.

“They decide on the topics and act like they know everything, never accepting other opinions or criticisms,” said a staffer. “People try to voice their thoughts, but Stephen and Shannon always insist they are right, like that stubborn uncle who always thinks he knows best.”

As fans know, Sharpe exited Fox Sports 1 in June 2023 after seven years of co-hosting “Undisputed” with veteran sports journalist Skip Bayless. He joined Smith on “First Take” three months later in September.

We reported earlier that Bayless is set to depart the show later this summer after an eight-year tenure, New York Post reports.

After Sharpe’s exit, “Undisputed” became a rotating panel featuring Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin, Richard Sherman, Rachel Nichols, and Paul Pierce. The new iteration failed to engage audiences as effectively as the firey one-on-one debates between Bayless and Sharpe.

Sharpe and Bayless launched FS1’s “Undisputed” in 2016, but growing tension between the pair allegedly prompted Sharpe to leave the show.

Following Sharpe’s exit, F1 took a brief hiatus before returning with a new format and new co-hosts with Bayless. Despite the changes, it wasn’t able to dethrone ESPN’s “First Take” as the most buzzed-about sports talk show on TV.

READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Stephen A. Smith Wears Name Tag After Shannon Sharpe Calls Him ‘Skip’ | Watch

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

Mick Hunt
Kim Johnson - courtesy photo
Donald Trump (Michael M Santiago-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Hulu’s “How to Die Alone”
DirecTV - screenshot
DeWanda Wise and Blair Underwood
Tyrese - screenshot
Bounty Tank
Actor James Earl Jones
Apple logo on iPhone - Depositphotos
Tyrese Gibson
Read More
Lizzo (Getty)
Read More
Steve Harvey
Read More
Tim Walz at 2024 DNC - screenshot
Read More
Ghostface Killah
Read More
Kamala Harris - via CBM
Read More
Monica and Brandy
Read More
Sean Diddy Combs Beyonce Jay-Z / GettyImages
Read More
Lori Harvey
Read More
Don Lemon on CNN - screenshot
Read More

POPULAR

Mick Hunt
Mick Hunt: The 5 Truths Entrepreneurs NEED to Know in the Modern World | VIDEO
Kim Johnson - courtesy photo
Gov. Newsom Replaces Mark Ghaly w/Kim Johnson + Vetoes Homebuying Bill for undocumented People | CBM Political Playback
Donald Trump (Michael M Santiago-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Trump's Delayed Sentencing: What Happened? - The Journal of Steffanie Rivers | WATCH
Hulu’s “How to Die Alone”
Natasha Rothwell’s Dream Come True with Hulu's 'How to Die Alone' | WATCH
DirecTV - screenshot
Wait. What?! DirecTV Now PAYING Customers to Subscribe to COMPETITORS As Disney Battle Escalates | VIDEO
DeWanda Wise and Blair Underwood
DeWanda Wise and Blair Underwood Discuss Dynamic in Provocative New Series 'Three Women' | EUR Video Exclusive
Tyrese - screenshot
Tyrese Gibson Arrested for Child Support Non-Payment: A Legal Battle Unfolds | VIDEO
Bounty Tank
Bounty Tank Talks Success of Hit Bounty Hunting Series on YouTube
Actor James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones: The Legendary Voice Behind Darth Vader and Mufasa Dies at 93
1 2 3 8,282