TENSIONS are growing behind the scenes as members of First Take are worried about Stephen A. Smith’s contract extension.
Stephen A. is on a quest for a massive $25 million per year contract extension, and it is worrying members of the First Take production team.
Members of First Take are concerned about how that salary could affect jobs[/caption]
Employees on the show have consistently shared how the attention on Stephen A. is concerning for those on the First Take team.
One person on the show explained how they feared First Take’s budget could explode if Stephen A. got the contract he is seeking.
“The situation about Stephen A. Smith bringing tons of attention to his salary requests and the fact that he wants to be the most paid guy on TV and asks for 25 million per year adds a lot of tension to the team, to the journalists who aren’t on his ‘small circle, king’s court’ and on the crew, as it will literally explode the budget of the show,” a journalist on the show told The U.S. Sun.
“Him going to do interview and public appearances in tons of places and events so often, speaking about himself and his requests so often is seen as him campaigning for himself, the ‘Stephen A. Smith circus on tour’ as we call it now between us, as it is getting pretty ridiculous and a lot of people are very mad at him and pissed.
“A lof of us are scared that those requests will push ESPN to cut cost in order to give him his money, and that many of us, and people from the crew will get fired, get rid of when the decision will be made.
The source emphasized their concerns that an inflated budget on First Take thanks to a large Stephen A. contract could jeopardize jobs.
“We aren’t talking only about Stephen A. Smith’s requests for salary, we also talk about how it will have also consequences on his close circle of guys on the show,” the source continued.
“The ones that aren’t in his circle are feeling pushed away, and they are stressed out, very stressed out about the next few weeks and months.
“Many of the people are scared to be kicked out of their job because of Mister Greedy’s enormous appetite for money and power, and to be the center of attention and exclusive decision maker on anything.”
This isn’t an isolated thought process either, other members of First Take echo a similar sentiment.
One member of the production team gave their opinion about Stephen A’s quest for a contract extension.
“I mean, every time he does an interview, or a public appearance, or even just open his mouth it’s ‘me, me, me’ and ‘money, money, money’ all the damn time,” a member of the production team told The U.S. Sun.
“Every single day on our group chat on WhatsApp we have always tons of quotes and stuff about Stephen A. Smith, it’s very frustrating, as this is getting out of control.
“He is in a massive public relation campaign, to show to the world that he is the ‘best,’ the ‘top guy on TV and sports industry’ and it’s getting really pathetic to be honest with you.”
The source shared that some members of the show are afraid to speak up on the chance that they lose their jobs on the show.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 – making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.
“Many of us are fed up of this constant ‘Stephen A. Smith show,’ but we can’t say anything because we are scared that his requests will be reached and that could cost us our jobs as the money that he asks is massive, it’s insanity in my opinion,” the source continued.
“The negotiations are taking forever, but until a decision is made, and the new contract is signed, our situation is very unpredictable, as many of us are scared that they will have to cut cost on one side, the crew, the workers, to give him his money.
“It’s adding a lot to an already very, very tense situation, and there is no tranquility, no serenity at out work at the moment with every thing is going on. His requests add more to it, that is for sure.”
Contract negotiations are still ongoing between Stephen A. and ESPN, and there is no timetable on when the situation could be resolved.
Stephen A’s contract ends in July 2025, and he could end up on a new network of ESPN doesn’t work out a deal with him.
Stephen A. is a free agent in July of 2025[/caption]
