Stephen A. Smith receives the 'Thumbs Down' award from The National Association of Black Journalists. Credit: NABJ Credit: NABJ
By Matt Clapp on

The National Association of Black Journalists announced on Saturday night at the convention in Atlanta that ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is a recipient of the 2026 “Thumbs Down” award.

“Stephen A. Smith. Sports analyst and political commentator. Smith has established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media.

“Such commentary reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ’s longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities.”

Philip Lewis of The Huffington Post adds that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, DuJuan McCoy (owner and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting/WISH-TV), and The Washington Post also received the “Thumbs Down” award from the NABJ.

Disney has a partnership with the NABJ, and Smith has been to the convention multiple times in the past with ESPN.

And that didn’t stop the NABJ from giving Smith this year’s “Thumbs Down” award.

According to the NABJ, “The Thumbs Down Award is presented to an individual or organization for especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical reporting, commentary, photography or cartooning about the Black community or for engaging in practices at odds with the goals of NABJ.”

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor/writer at Awful Announcing and The Comeback.

He can be reached by email at mclapp@awfulannouncing.com.

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