Marcellus Wiley claims Stephen A. Smith didn’t think Max Kellerman was white enough for ‘First Take’

After Terrell Owens claimed Max Kellerman was “Blacker” than Stephen A. Smith, Marcellus Wiley believes it may have been part of why they divorced on First Take.

It’s been three years since Smith booted Kellerman from First Take. However, their split is often revisited due to Smith’s willingness to admit he was the driving force behind Kellerman’s departure, citing chemistry issues and claiming he didn’t enjoy working with his former debate partner.

Despite the repeated blunt candor from Smith surrounding their split, Kellerman has refrained from offering a rebuttal or addressing his time on First Take. But Smith was at it again on a recent episode of his podcast, repeating he didn’t want to work with Kellerman on First Take while simultaneously attempting to praise him for landing a boxing gig on Netflix.

In doing so, Smith also accused Kellerman’s former radio partner, Marcellus Wiley, of lying about their relationship on his YouTube show for clicks. And on the latest episode of his YouTube show, Wiley responded, offering his own perspective on Smith’s nearly three-year-old breakup with Kellerman.

“I know for a fact that you wanted Max to be the white guy. You know, talk on the white issues. You needed another Skip Bayless. So, he had to look that way. You had to have a white guy, remember those days back then? When everybody needed to keep the stereotypes alive?” Wiley said. “We all know what this is, the typecast. You needed a white guy. Problem is, as T.O. told you and told the world, Max is Blacker than you! And whether you agree with that or not, I don’t believe in that stuff, but I do know one thing. Max knew more Black culture than you. And you got mad!

“How do I know that? I watched…That don’t mean he’s Blacker than you, but you took it that way. Cause that means you got your own insecurities, partner. The other thing is, you wanted to win the debates all the time and be the smartest in the room. Oh, you picked wrong dude. Max is a genius, I am not exaggerating that. This is not hyperbole, brother. This dude’s a genius.”

In 2019, Terrell Owens joined Smith and Kellerman on First Take to discuss Colin Kaepernick. Before and during the show, Smith had been critical of Kaepernick for skipping an organized workout where 25 NFL teams were set to be present, questioning the quarterback’s motives.

Responding to the criticism, Owens questioned Smith’s Blackness. “Max almost seems Blacker than you,” Owens told Smith during the 2019 episode of First Take.

The uncomfortable interaction occurred right in the middle of Kellerman’s tenure on First Take. Kellerman joined the show in 2016 before Smith wanted him out in 2022. Smith has never cited Owens’ claim as a reason why he lacked chemistry with Kellerman. But Smith has admitted what Owens said bothered him, noting it was the closest he ever came to losing it on live TV.